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THE M
^RLIAMENTARm
■^
CONSTITUTIONAL
liftoryofEngkndj
Being a
FAITHFUL ACCOUNT
Of all the
remarkable Transactions
In Pa r l I a m e n t,
From the earlieft Times,
T o T H E
Reftoration of King Charles II.
COLLECTED
om the Journals of both Houses, the Records,
original Manuscripts, fcarce Speeches, and
Tracts; all compared with the feveral Cocem-
porary Writers, and connected, throughout, with
ibe Hittory of the Times.
By Seteral Hanss.
Vol. IV.
hidi fioilhes the Reign of Q^en Elizabeth.
LONDON,
Printed ; and fold by Thomas OJbornet mGrc/s Im :
AND
FllUam Sandby^ againft St.BunJian*sCbtirch,Fkil-Jirttt.
MDCCLI.
1
I«
I
I
THE
Pariiamentary history
O F
ENGLAND.
(HE War with Frame h&r\gnavr
• aitually begun, and the Smews of
-.t much wanted ; Wrifs were fcnt Q,„„Eii„b,tfc;
I out, dated at WeJImtTiJler, Novim-
her the loth, for a i'arliament to
] meet there, on the tith Day of
'January following, in the 5th Year of thisReJgn. t>R« n! e
On the Day of their Meeting, :he Queen, it ""^jSi! ' *'
ieems, was again indifpofed ('a) ; atiii therefore a- Ac Weftnunflet,
nother Writ of Prorogation was produced by the
Lord Keeper and other Lords of the Council, and
read, whereby this Parliament was prorogued only
lo ihe next Day, being the 12th ot the fame
Month.
On thai Day the Parliament began; and it n»7
rot be amife to give ths Form of the Qiieen's Procef-
fion to the Houfe [h). She rode that Morning from
her Palace, in great State, to WeJimit)Jier Abbey;
accompany'd with all the Lords, Spiritual and
Temporal. The Queen was clad in a Crimfon
Vol. IV. A Velvet
r«)Shewi9 romewtiat Tick of » Stych. Cm. J<""-
(h) Sirjpr'i jli^ali, p.iJS. SoiDeHiii'J'iirxiil, p. jS, S'r.
for tJM wbclt.
I
»
a The Parliamentary History
QsMnZtiuhth. Velvet Robe, the Earl of Northumberland bearing
•S**' the Sword before her ; all the Heralds at Arms in
their rich Mamies, Trumpets blowing, Wf. The
Bilhops, twenty-two in Number, riding in their
Robes of Scarlet lined, and Hoods down their
Backs of Minever {c). The Queen lighted at our
Lady of Grab's Chapel, and, with her noble and
ftately Retinue, went in at the North Door of the
Abbey, where (he heard a Sermon preach'd by Dr
Nowelly Dean of St Fours ; and then a Pfalm being
fung, (he and her honourable Company went out
of the South Door, to the Parliament Chamber,
and foon after to the Houfe.
The Lord Keeper's Speech, and other initial Ce-
remonies, are omitted in the Lords Jcurmli but are
fupplied in Sir Symjnrfj Deifei's. Who tells us, that
the Queen being prefeni, andtheHoufes met, the
Lord Keeper, Bacon, by her Command, opened
the Caufe of the Summons in thefe Words ;
My Lords and ethers of this honmrable Affembly,
* "\/"0U (hall underftand, ihat my moft dread
* j[ and Sovereign Lady the Q^ieen's Majefty,
' here prefent, hath commanded me to declare the
The Lord Keep-* Occafion of this Afiembly ; which I am notable
er'sSptechatO- ( (^ut unmcel) todo, as it ought to be done, among
^"8 " ' fucha nobie, wife and difcreet Company. How-
' beit, knowing the Experience of herMajelly, bear-
* jng with fuch as do their good Wills, and your
' Honours Patience, in bearing with me in the like,
* afore this Time ; it encourageth me the better
* herein, not doubting of the like at this prefenc.
* Therefore, my Lords, theOccaiioii is, that nc-
* ceflary Matters be providL-d for, propounded and
* fcanned, and after agreed upon and ended, which
* aftL-wards (hill remain and continue ; which
* Matters, in my Judgment, may well be divided
' into two Parts ; one couching Religion, for the
* fetLJng forth of God's Honour and Glory ; and
' the other concerning Policy, for the Common-
' wealth ;
{O Beaver Skin. Mwevrr, a Fr. O. Minuyer, Minuvair, Pcllii
Umii C'jujdam Pmici ad fiffu/citiidas Vijli- k,birnas rxfaila.
Skinnci'j Eija. DiB.
I
0/ ENGLAND. 3
* wealth; as well forProvifionat home, ss topro-Qoee„Eji„iath. j
' vide for the Foreign Enemy abroad : Which faid 156*.
* Matters of Religion, may again be divided into
' two Parts ; for God's Caufc being fincere)y
' weighed, confider'J and followed, bringeth forth
* good Succefs in all Affairs ; and being not fol-
' lowed, butnegledted, and made light of, how
' can any Thing profper or take good Effeft?
* And the greater the Pcrfonages be which fo abufc
' the fame, the greatenhe Fault is, to the Damage
* of the whole Commonwealth ; for all Men's Eyes
* be fixed on thofe who be in Authoriiy ; for as
* the Head is, even fo is the Foot ; and after the
* Superior followeth the Inferior. For as God's
■ Law itfelf is peifeit, fo there is no Imperfeftion
* therein, but that which comeih of ourfelves,
' wherein 1 cannot excufe either the Spiritualty or
* Laity. For as the Preachers be not fo diligent
* in their Vocation of Preaching, as they ought to
* be, even fo we of the Laity be neither fo diligent
* in hearing, nor yet in doing, as we fhould be.
* And thirdly, feme of the Laity, in not giving
' Credit unio it, as it ought for to be. For as all
* in Authority ought to be credited, and their Do-
* ings taken in the beft Part, yet I would wifli the
* fame Ihould continue no longet than they do
* well.
* And where at this prefent there is great Want
* of .Minifters, and fome of them that be, be much
* infufScient ; which, confidering the Time, are
■ tobeborn wiihiU, not doubling the Circumfpec-
* tionof the Bilhops in well looking to the placing
* of fuch, which fh.ill be appointed hereafter j
* and thofe which be, and wil! not be reformed, to
* have ftiarp Punidiment, For as heretofore the
* Difcipline of the Church hath not been good ; and
* again> that the Minifters thereof have been
* flothful ; even fo for Want of the lame hath
' rprung two Enormities : The firft is, that for lack
* thereof, every Mmliveth as he will, without
' Fear ; ?.^<i fecondly, many Ceremonies agreed
* upon* but the light Ornaments thereof are either
A a 'left
Queen Blizabetht
156*.
4 The Parliamentary History
left undone or forgotten. As in one Point, for
Want of Difcipline it is that fo few come to
Service, and the Chifrch fo unreplenifh'd, notwith-
ftandirg that at the laft Parliament, a Law was
made for good Order to be obferved in the fame ;
but yet, as appeareth, not yet executed. There-
fore if it be too eafy, let it be made fharper, and
if already well, then fee it executed. For the
Want of Difcipline caufeth Obftinacy, Contempt
and growing of Herefy ; therefore better to be
winked at and unfpoken, than bruted abroad and
unperformed : Therefore, in mine Opinion, the
Device is good, that in every Diocefe there be
Officers appointed and devifed, as hath been
thought good, to fit for the Redrefs of thefe and
fuch like Errors, twice or thrice a Year, till the
Faults be amended. In which well doing, the
Head-Officers are to be born withall, and main-
tained ; and Laws to be made for the Purpofe :
The chief Care of which faid former Matters
pertaineth to you, my Lords of the Spiritualty ;
wherein you muft take Pains to travel, where-
unto be Laws to be joined ; not only for the more
perfefting of the fame, but for the Maintenance,
as well of the Heads as the Minifters thereof.
* Now to the fecond Part, of Policy for the
Commonwealth ; for as there be Faults for
Want of Difcipline, fo are there Faults in the
Imperfedtion, and Want of Execution, which
Imperfeftion muft be look'd unto ; and Want of
Laws which needeth to be provided for and made ;
and to confider, if there be not too many Laws
for one Thing, and thofe fo large and buly, that
neither the Commons can underftand the fame,
nor yet well the Lajvyer, which would be brought
into feme briefer and better Order, and there ex-
ecuted. For which Purpofe, it is neceflary to
take care, to have good Minifters thereof ; and
fecondly, to banifli all Fearfulnefs for profccut-
ing the fame ; and oVer and befides, that to ap-
point proved Men to inquire of thefe Minifters,
whereby they may have the better Regard to their
* Duty ;
^
0/ ENGLAND. 5
Duty : For, even as [he Vifitaticn of the Church Qaee
is and was well appointed for the Church, fonow
is the lifce to be appointed for the Temporally,
For if Che Laws be not well executed, my Part
is not the leaft thereof, which yearly I would be
glad to hear of. The third for the Enemy, as
well here bred amongil us, as abroad : For
whereas the Queen's Majefty at her Eiirrance
found this Realm in War with Foreign Power,
at which Time Lack of Treafuie, Artillery,
Force, and other Thiiigs, caufed her to agree to
a Peace, although no[ the beft, howbeit for our
Surety flie fpared no Coft to Bring it to pils ;
which notwithftanding, of laier Time, certain
old Cankered Enemies of this Realm, kitempied
to put in Execution to bring theSculs to the Go-
vernance of France, and fo being a firm Land to
ours, to have been our uller Enemies ; which
Danger the Q^ieen foreleting, fo ight by all
Means, as well by her EmbaffaJors as others, to
ftay the Enierpnze, but could roti and theiefore
helped her Neighbours of SfJf/dW, and fo diiap-
pointed that Attempt ; or elfe afore this Time
I doubt the Sioit'/b Territories would have been
too little to have holden them, but that they
would have troubled us, not only at BerwUk^tiat
at the Wills oiiiirk; which Attempt, being by
the Means of herMajefty flayed and letted, the feid
bent Enemies have attempted the fame in France,
to the whole Difturbance of all Chriftendsmy and
all done for the Mifchief of this Realm, joined
wilhadevilifh Confpiracy within ourfelves, tend-
ing to the aiding of the Foreign Enemy ; and by
their own Confeflion, to have raifcd a Rebellion
in thii Realm : And for that by notie of her
Grace's Travels or Means, Ihe could there ftay
their Enterprife, or make them agree, flie was
forced the rather to ftay the lame, for the Surety
of tills Realm, to the no little Charge of her Ma-
jefty : For in the(e Proceedings, and in repait-
ing of thefe and other like Fault?, I dare be bold
A3 ' ta '
6 The Tarliamentary History
inEliiabtth. ' ^° ^^f ^^°'' ^^^^ ^ ^"^ thereof afliir'd) it hath coft
jjoi. ' her Majefty as much as two ot the beft Sublldies,
' which at any Time hath been within this Realm ;
' and all at her own proper Charges, without ei-
* either ftraining of her Subjc6ls, or having Aid of
* them, towards the fapic. Howbeit fhe yet think-
* eth it well fpent ; for often it chanceth, that
' Money is better Tpent than fpared ; as the com-
' mon Saying is. That a Penny is well fpenC which
' afterwards faveth a Pound. • And fo in this, if
* that Money had not been To fpent, in IVaying in
* Time their attempted Entcrprifea, it would af-
' terwards have tyrncd to no little Prejudice, nor
* yet fmall Charge of this Realm. And where
* afore this Time Princes commonly have had fome
* Vein or Delight to fpend Treafure upon for their
* Pleafure, which the Qiieen hath none, but only
* for the Commonwealth and Surety thereof; lo
* that we may moft jultly and fortunately fay to
* her great Praite, thatthe relieving of the Realm's
* Neceflities is our Prince's whole Delight .■ And
* notwithftanding all the Disburiements of thefe
— — * her great Charges, yet flic was (as I right well
' know^ very hardly brought to, and perluaded to
' call this Parliament, in which fhe fhould be dri-
* ven to require any Aid, or by any Means to
* charge her Subjedls, if by any other Means it
' might have been holpen ; and fo her Majefty
' herfelf commanded to be declared. And 1 for
' my Part, and fo do others very well know ; for
' the Commons little think or confider what a
* Trouble Want is to her, whereby (he is forced
* to ask of them, (which furely isagainll her Na-
* lure) but that fhe is thcteunlo forced, for the
' Surely of this Realm.
* And far that the Nether Houfe cannot, being
* fo many logciJier, but of Necellity mull have
* one to he a Mouth, Aider or InftruiSor unto
* them, for the Opening of Matters, which is
* called the Speaker ; therefore go and aflemble
* yourfelves together and eleft one, a difcreet,
t wife^ and learned Man, to be your Speaker, and
0/ ENGLAND. 7
* on Friday next the Queen's Majpfty appointcth QuKnEUubeth.
* 10 repair hither again, for to receive the Pre fen t- '^**'
* meat of him accordingly.'
On the -i^tho^ January, the Commons came
again before llie Queen, and prefenied I'bomai IVil- Thnmas wiiii-
liams, Efq; one of ihe Fellows of the Inner Tem- '"''^''^i^r"'"
pie, their Speaker elcft ; whofe Excufe forlnfuf-"'
ficiency not being allow'd, he made a moll elabo-
rate Speech on his Induflion ; which, for the Ra-
"Erity of the Stile, and other Incidents, is judged as
Worthy of a Place in this Hiftory as the Lord
'ceper's.
Msji Hiftsurablt,
' A Lthough afore this Time the Place hath
* J\ been furnifhed with Orators, and therefore J^^^p'^J^J^,
* iheir Matter entreated of worthily call'd an Ora- ifeun.
* lion ; yet I now, void of any luch Knowledge,
*, require that Name may he left, and thqt it might
* bear the Name of ^n Epiftle wiih a Requcft.
' And for the better Underftand'ng ;hen.-of, 'Will
* divide the Matter into iliree Parts ; one lor Time
* paft ; and the fecond, Time prefent ; and tlie
* third, Time to come. But fearing to full he-
* tween two Mountains, as to be counted either
* ungrate, or diflembling, I know not what to
* fay ; but yet feeing Savage Beafts forget not
•them who do well unCo them, as appeareth by
* the Story of a Lyon, out of whofe Foot a certain
* Man took a Thorn, which faid Perfon being af-
* lerwardfi caft to the fame Lyon to be devoured,
* the Lyon rot forgetting, but remembering the
* former Kindnefs fliewed unto him, would not
' devour him, but ever after followed the fame
' Man ; even fo, without loo much Ingratitude,
' can I not let pafs your Majefty's manifold Benc-
* fits extended upon us j which although worthily
■ to be declared, they pafs my Capacity now to ex -
* prefs ; yet think it Blafphemy to fuffer it clean
' to be untouch'd, and therefore in fome part wiU
. * put in remembrance the fame ; which I will di-
' vide into two Parts, the one fpititual the other
* leroporah
Qoeendizabetb.
1562.
8 The Tarliamentary History
temporal. I'^or the firft, when God planted your
Highnefs in this Place, you found it not lb fur-
ni{h*d with Treafure as other your Predeceflbrs
have, although if you had, yet Occafions enough
to employ it ; which notwithftanding, you did
not take the Extremity of Penal Statutes, and
other Forfeitures, due unto you, but pardoned
all fuch as in Time convenient requir'd it. Alfo
your Majefty did vouchfafe to take upon you the
Charge of both the States, as well Spiritual as
Temporal, and fo purged this Church of all ill
Service, and placed therein Service to God's Ho-
nour. Further, what great Plague and Dearth
happened by ill Money this twenty Years laft
paft, which within one Year is brought to good
again, with little Lofs of your Subjedls ? Yout
Majefty prevented alfo, as well the Attempt in
Scotiandy made by your common Enemy riiefe,
as now of late again in France ; which otherwife,
if it had not been forefeen, would have turned to
the no little Peril, and Lois of this your Realm,
and Subjeds thereof. Alfo your Highnefs hath
been Author of good Laws, as appeareth by-
thofe made, both of the laft Parliament, and by
your other Proclamations fince. Further, find-
ing this Realm at your Entrance in Wars, you
brought it in Peace : All which former Proceed-
ings have been a great Charge unto your Majefty,
which although the Revenues of the Crown be
fmall, yet hath it hitherto only been done of your
own Charge, as the laft Day by the Lord Keeper
it was declared. And for the laft Part, and prin-
cipal Point of all other, your Highnefs bath
brought and reftored again God's Doftrine into
this Realm ; for which your humble Subjefts
moft heartily give Thanks to God, and you, by
the Mouth of me their appointed Speaker.
* For the fecond Point, being Time prefent ;
jrbur Majefty is the Head, and the Body the
Spiritually and the Temporally, which Body is
to be divided into three Eftates, the Lords Spiri-
tual, and the Lords Temporal, and the Com-
^ monst
I
I
0/ ENGLAND. p
mons, whofeMouth I am ; which by no means QuwnEiinbeth.
can profper, the one without the other i for as any •s^i-
Eftate divided cannot well continue, fo in this;
and therefore fay, Na/a leipfum, not minding to
fpeak Ihefe Words only lo you, but to ihe whole
Body ; for although the Head may lack a Mem-
ber of Ihe Body, and yet continue ; yet fo the
Member cannot wane the Head, nor yet the
Head the whole Sody, but the Want of the one
of thefe laft two (hall be the Ruin of the other ;
and therefore of NecelTity, for the fure Preferva-
tion of the whole, it behoveth them firmly to
join together ; for though your Highnefs be the
Head, and therefore the chief Care periaineth
to you, yet your Majefty cannot throughly re-
drefs [he fame, without Knowledge of the Faults,
nor yet well underftand the whole State, except
the other Parts of the Body join with you, and
put to their helping Hands. I find in divers Hi-
ftoriea great Commodities grow to Princes, by
fearching out, not only the Wants of their Sub-
jefts, but Knowledge of their Talk ; whereby
they better both underftand theirown Faults, and
the Flatterers they haveabout them ; which Or-
der the wife and prudent Marcus Auriliui ufed,
and long Time reigned honourably. The noble
Conqueror Alexandtr, in the Beginning of his
Reign, ufed the fame; but leaving thatOrder,
and having no Regard to bis living, was deftroy'd ;
which like Example was feen by that notable and
valiant Warrior Julhn Cafar, And being en-
couraged by thefe like Examples, and others, to
enter into feme Abufes ufed in this Realm, I will
onlyfpeakof three, being all three notable Mon-
fters, Necellity, Ignorance, and Error. Necef-
flty is grown amon;jftourfelves, fo that no Man
is contented with his Degree, though he hath
never fo much ; but where (he is fas the Proverb
faith) the hath no Law; fur how now be all
Schools, Benefice?, and other l;'-:t Rooms fur-
uifhtd, an \ yet thofe fnr Sciiools lo few, that I
dare fay a hundred Schools want in England^
which.
i
10 TIjs ^Parliamentary HrsTORr
h. * which before this Time have been. And if in
* every School there had been but an hundred Scho-
' lars, yet thai bad been ten thoufand ; fo that
' now I doubt whether there he fo many learned
* Men in England^ as the Number wants of thefe
* Scholars.
' The fecond Monfter is her Dauohter Igno-
* ranee; for want of ten thaufand Scholars, which
* thele Schools were the hringcr'i up of, and want
* of good School-mafters, bringeth Ij^norancc ;
* but the Occalion of thefe two Monfters, is for
* want of Livings and Prefermsnis; for Cove t-
* oufnefc hath gotten the Livings, as by Improptia-
* tions, which is a Decay of Learning. For by it
* the Tree of Knowledge groweih downwards, and
* not upwards, as it was firft meant and made for ;
* and growetli thereby gready to the Diflionour
* both of God and this Commonwealih. The U-
' niverfities are decayed, and great Market Towns,
* and others, without either School or Preacher \
* for the poor Vicar hath but only twenty Pound,
* and the reft, being no fmall Sum, is Impropri*
* ate ; and fo thereby no Preacher there, but ihe
' People being trained up and led in BHndnefs, for
* wsnt of Initruftions, become obftinate. And
* therefore to fee to it, and that Impropriations
* may be redrefs'd, notwithllanding the Laws a!-
* ready made.
' The third Monfter is Error, a Serpent with
' m.iny Heads, many evil Opinions, and much
' evil Life, as Pelagians, Libertines, Papiits, and
* fuch others, leaving God's Commandments, to
' follow their own Traditions, Affet^ions and
' Minds. B'Jt if the Papift be, as indeed he is, in
* Error, let us feek the Redreis thereof ; for that
* the Poor and Ignorant be thereby abuled. Until
* which Rcdrefs be had, you nor your Realm, rei-
* ther at home nor abroad, Ihaii ever be well ibrved
' of fuch People, which be fo divided; and there-
' fore fpeedily look to it, and weed out this Wick-
' ednefs and Error wiiiiin ihefe our Days, which
' is too much known now adays i for if your
' Godly
0/ E N G L A N D. ii
Gc<JIy Proclamations were not fo foon forgotten, Qs"" ^i'"l«'l'-
ihcy would be amended. In the Country 1 heard '5*'"
tell, but fince I cime hither, walking in the
Streets, I have heard oftentimes more Oaths than
Words i a pitiful hearing ! for if the /Egyptia/tSy
by whofe Laws the People loft their Hands, and
amongft the Barbarians loft iheir Lives, for
fwcaring, and efpecially if it were a Lie: If it
were fo punilhed amongft them, being Infidels,
what Ihall there be no PuniflimenC amongft us
being Chriftians ? Is Truth further from us pro-
fefling the Name of Chrifl, and being Chriftians,
than from them being Infidels? But even as
Tantalus was plagued, fo are we i far although
he had Apples even hanging at his Mouth, yet
could he not eat any of them ; and having
a River of Water even as it were running by his
Li[K, yet could ht not drink, but died for Hun-
ger and Thirft : Ev^:n fo are we plagued ; for
having God'a Word, and his Name ever in our
Mouths, yet we live as Infidels, or as them that
are furlheft from the fame ; and fo having e-
nougb, there is Scarcity. And that we may a-
void this Blafphemy, and the other Monilers,
your humble Subjefls delirc your Highnefs to fee
to the lamentable Eftate of this Commonwealth,
and the Redrelsofthe fame.
* Having perufed Times paft and Times prefent,
let us go to, and well remember the Time to
come. For Caia faith, a Thing well begun
{hall be well ended; fo then followeth of a good
Beginning a good Ending. For that noble Cap-
tain Hanibal, environ 'd with his Enemies, in »,
ftrange Country, founded his Trumpet to Coun-
cil, and thereby profpered. So your Mnjefly
hath now called the Prelates, Nobles, and Com-
mons, toCouncil, for Surety of the Realm. We
now fo therefore aflembled, as diligent in our
Calling, have tljought good to move your Ma-
jefty, with the Aflent of this Aflembly, to build
aftrongForl for the Surety of the Realm, to the
* repuliing of your Enemies abroad i which muft
■ bje
12 The Tarliamentary History
- _ iir I .L ' be fet upon firm Ground, and ftedfaft, havlna
1561. two Oates, one commonly open, the other as a
* Poftern, with two Watchmen at either of tliem,
' one Governor, one Lieutenant, four Soldiers,
' and no good Thinfi; there wanting. The fame
* to be named, the Fear of GoJ ; the Governor
* thereof to be God, your M,ijeity the Lieute-
' nant, the Stones the Hearts of faithful People, the
* two Watchmen at the open Gate to be call'd
* Knowledge and Virtue, the oiher two at the
* Poftern to be call'd Mercy and Truth ; all being
' Spiritual iVIinifters.
* This Fort is invincible, if every Man will fear
' God ; for all Governors reign and govern by the
' two Watchmen, Knowledge and Virtue ; and
' if you, being the Lieutenant, fee Juftice with
' Prudence her Sifter executed, you fliall then
* rightly ufe the Office of a Lieutenant ; and for
' fuchas departoutof this Fort, let them be let out
' at the Poftern by the two Watchmen, Mercy
* and Truth ; and then you fhall be well at home
* and abroad. The Charge of this Fort is yours,
* being Lieutenant. By Juftice your Phce is
' fettled, whereunto Obedience ought to be taught
* and done ; which your Majefty ought to look to.
* And fo now the Fear of God to be a fure Fort,
' the Subje£ls Hearts the Stones, Knowledge, Vir-
* tue, Mercy and Truth, the four Watchmen,
' God the Governor, and yourMajefty the Lieu-
* tenant. Is well proved. Therefore to build up-
' on this Fort, the Fear of God, is nothing lacfc-
* ing to a happy Life ; for by God are all Princes
' appointed. Who put down Sau!? Who made
' David King, who fought only God's Glory and
» fo profpcred .' As did Jefaphat, Jofias, and He-
' zechidi, and alio 'ihas, as long as they fought
' God's Glory, protpered ; but forgetting God,
' were overthrown .- Therefore firft of all, and
' continually vouchfafe to feek God's Glory, and
' his true Honour, and then you fhall have this
' Fort well built, and by j'ou well governed.
; Further I am to be a Suitor to your Majefty,
* that
i
0/ E N G L A N D. 13
* that when Matters of Importance fliall arife, Qu»
* whereupon it fliall be neceflary to have your
* Highnefs's Opinion, that then I may have free
* Accefs unto you for the fame j and the like to the
* Lords of the Upper Houfe.
* Secondly, That in repairing from the Nether
* Houfe to your Majefty, or the Lords of the Up-
' per Houfe, to declare their Meanings, and I mif-
' taking on uttering the lame contrary to their
* Meaning, that then my Fault or Imbecility in
* decUring thereof be not prejudicbl to the Houfe,
* but that I may again repair to them, the better to
* underftand their Meanings, and fo they to reform
* the fame.
* Thirdly, That the Aflembly of the Lower
* Houfe may have frank and free Liberties to fpeak
* their Minds, without any Coniroulmem, Blame,
* Grudge, Menaces or Difpleafure, according to
* the old ancient Order.
* Finally, That the old Privilege of the Houfe
* be obferved, which is, ihat they and theirs might
* i)e at Liberty, frank and free, without Arreit»
* Moleftation, Trouble, or oiher Damage to
i their Bodies, Lands, Goods or Servants, with
* all other their Liberties, during the Time of the
' faid Parliament ; whereby they may the better
* attend, and do their Duty; all which Privileges
* I dcfire may be enrolled, as at other Times it
* hath been accuftom'd.
* And thus having been tedious unto you with
* my Speech, void of Eloquence, I crave your
' Pardon, and defire your Majefty to accept of
* my Heart and goodwill, as well at this Time as
* after j and I will pray as I am bounden, for your
* Honour long to reign over us,
We omit the Lord Keeper's Anfwer, being no-
thing but what was common on fuch Occafions.
It was now that the Oath of Supremacy was firll
taken by all the Members of both Houles ; purfu-
ant to an A&. of Parliament made in the firft Year
of this Reign,
The
14 'Ti'Js 'Parliamentary Histort
fefenEiiraliitli. '^^^ Jsurnals of [he Lords begin with a Bill, for
1561, the good ordering and governing of the Queen's
Majefty 's Garrifon of the Town of Berwick. This
Frontier - Place being judged very necelTary to
be taken Care of at that Time. Anoiher Bill
palled the Houfe, alfo, for preventing Horfes and
Geldings to be carried out of the Realm, into Scot-
land, orclfewhere.
Nothing farther, very material, happened in their
Proceedings, till February ihe lolh, when a Bill for
granting a Supply was lent up by the Commons.
It confifted of a Subfidy, two Fifteenths and two
Tenths ; which pafled the Houfe of Lords on the
rin"^'.^"^''''' '3<^' "^^^'^ '^•"^"^ "^^^ ^^^ ''^'^^ ^^ ^^^ former, ex-
cept that the Tax apon Goods was from three
Pounds, when the former was from five. Cambden
writes, that this large Supply was granted as a Com-
pliment to the Queen, on the happy Turn of Af-
fairs, at that Time (cj, ' In Confideraiion of her
* having reformed the Faith ; reflorcd Peace to her
' Kingdoms ; refcued England and Scotland from
' the common Enemy ; refined the Coin ; rebuilt
* the Navy; provided Ammunition for Sea and
* Land ; and in a Word, for the extraordinary
' Care ihe iifed in France, for the Security of its
' young King, for the Safety of this Kingdom, and
' her Endeavours to regain Calais'
We find, by thejiiurnal, that the two Provinces
of Canterbury and Tar^ granted each a Subfidy, this
Time, which were confirmed by Parliament.
• On the 3d Day of iViarch, a Bill paiJed the
Houfeof Lords, with fome Provifoes added thereto,
by them. For the AJfurance of the ^een's Ma'iejifs
Royal Power, over all States andSuhjeifs, within her
Dominions. This Afl ftands the firit amongft our
printed
fc) Ciaii Jtn ia Kenit/t, p. 591.
Our Author procfcdi to acquaint his Resderj, 'That t Fif-
tiiiih and a Traii, is 9 certain Tar, in every City, Burrnaih aaJ
Ttwn f not upon ersry Man, in particular, hut a penersi Sutn, in
PrDpnriion to tlie Fiftetnlh af the computeil Wealth of thi: rclpciliTC
Placfs. A Subfidjis what is impuf.d unevetv fingle l'n!"Di, « they
are atTelTcd by Pole, according to the Vilue of thcii Goads andLanat.
But, he adds, neither one nur ether of thsft Tms art laid but by
Aft uf farliament.
0/ E N G L A N D. 15
printed Statutes of this Year ; * By wh ich, it was „„
Hi't^h Treafon for any Man to aflert three Times,
by Writing, Word or Deed, the Authority of
any foreign Prince, Prelate or State, in Spiritual
Matters in England, or any other of the Queen's
* Dominions. Or to refufe the Oath of Supremacy
■ to the Queen, in Matters Spiritual, or over Per-
' fonsEcclefiaftical, after it had been twice lender-
' ed. Yet fo, as that they Ihould not fall under
* an Attainder, ror forfeit their Goods and Chatels ;
* nor that this Oath fliould be exacted from any
* Peer of the Realm, or any Perfon of eminent
* Quality, whofe Allegiance the (^een diJ not in
* the leaft queftion ; nor, indeed, of any but fuch
* who were, had been, or fiiould be, in HolyOr-
* ders ; or did ihen bear, or (hould bear, fonie Ec-
' clefiaftical Office. Or tliat, after Warning given,
* fhould refufe to oblerve the Rights and Ceremo-
* nies of the Cliurch of Er/g!a/id ; or fhould dif-
* honour the fame in Public, either by Word or
* Deed ; or fhovilJ celebrate or hear Mafs, ^c'
To the Failing of this Bill there was only fome
fmal! Oppofition ; the Catholic Bilhops being now
removed, but one Lay-Lord, in the whole Houfe,
had the Courage to fpeak againft it This was
Lord Vifcount Muntague, mentioned before {«J.
In the Lower Houfe, one Mr. jitkinfin, a Student
of the Innner-Timpk, exprcfled the fame Zeal for
the Catholic Caufe. Their Speeches are publifhed
in Mr. Strype's Annals, i^c. from the Manufcript
of the famous Martyrologlfl:, /Va'? ; and mult find
a Place, alfo, in thefe Enquiries, with this Oblerva-
tion of Strypth upon them, ' That the Plea of Con-
* fcience and gentle Ufage, toward fuch as differ In
* Judgment, are Arguments made ule of now in the
* '^thiMoiPapifti; which were but of fmall Avail,
* in the lart Reign, when they were in Power."
Firft Lord Montague.
« r|-lHE Prince or Commonwealih that will|^;f^jf°"g^,^/*
■ JL make a new Law, ought to confider theQueeo'tsu-
' three prcro.L7.
[i) Sit jAi'tmyimpT, advinced tolheP«eriEe'D7 Qii^eca A/agi,
i6 The Parliamentary Histort
* threeThings: The FirJI, That the fame Law
' * be neceffary : The Secend, That it be juft and
* reafonablc : The Third, That it be poffible and
* commodious, apt and fit to be put in Execution.
* Unto ihefe three Qualities may be reduced all o-
* ther that are requiliie, to the End the Law {hould
* be good. Now, it is to be feen, if tbefe three
* Qualities be in the Law, rhat certain do pretend,
' and would have to be made in this Parliament a-
' gainft ihe Papifts, as they call them. For ihe
' which prefuppofe, that my Intent is not lo per-
* fuade ihat the Religion which now is obferved in
* England is either falfe or fchifmatjcal ; but to en-
* treat only, if it be good, that a Law be made,
* whereby it Ihall be commanded, under Pain of
* Deaih, that the Papifts, with Oath, confefs the
* Do£lrine of the Proteftants to be true and evange-
' licat. As for the firft, 1 fay, That this Law that
* is pretended is not neceffary ; forafmuch as the
* Catholicksof this Realm difturb not, nor hinder
' the publick Affairscf the Realm, neither Spiritual
' nor Tempoial. They difpute nor, they preach
* not, they difobey not the Queen, they caufe no
' Trouble nor Tumults among the People. So
* that no Man can fay, that thereby the Realm,
' doth receive any Hurt or Damage by them.
* They have brought into the Realm no Novelties
' in Doitnne and Religion.
' This being true and evident, as it is indeed,
' there is no Neceffity why any new Law fliould
' be made againll them. And where there is no
* Sore nor Grief, Medicines are fuperfluous, and ■
* alfo hurtful and dangerous.
' As concerning the fecond, I fav, That this Law
* that is pretended, is neither juft nor rcafonnble,
' nor cannot be, nor deftn'eth to be called, or have
' the Name of idle, when it is made. F'or it
' (liall be contrary and repugnant unio all Laws of
* Men, Natural and Civil. I meiidle not wi[h
' God's Laws ; for I have above faid, That in
' this Dilcourfe I do not pretend to eiitreat of the
• Verity
0/ E N G L A N D. xy
Verity and Truih of Religion. But leaving (hat oy^
" til! Time fit and convenient, I do entreat, Whe-
• iher it be juft lo make this penal Staiuie to force
• theSuhjefls ofthisRenlm to receive and believe
• the Religion of the Proieftants, upon Pain of
' Death. This, I fay, is a Thing mod uojuft.
f For that it rs repugnant to the Law of Nature
• and all Civil Laws. The Reafon is, for that na-
• turaliy no Man can, or ought lo be conftrained, to
• take for ceriain that that he holJeth to be uncer-
' tain. For this repugneih lo the natural Liberty
' of Man's Undcrftanding. For Underilandin'g
' mav be perluaded, but not forced.
• The Doftrine of the Proieftants doth repugn
• unto all the Ecclefiaft:ical Stale of Evgland that
f were prcfent at the lart Parliament, and holdeih
' Contradiilion with all Provinces oi Cbrjfiendumi
• It rqiugneih to all the Doftrine of all the Parlia-'
• menis paft, and all general Councils. With thefe
' Contradiflions there in no Proteftant, if he be a
' Man of any Underftandinjj or Judgment, but will
' confefs that it is doubtful and uncertain ; feeing
' that of thofeThings that appearnot toourSenfes,
' there arifeih no Doubt nor Uncertainty; hut of the
' Opinions of Men. And if he will fay 'tis the ta-
' tholick Doflrine ; therefore the Queftion is. How
' this Word can be underftood f which is the
' Woric of Underftanding, and is reduced and
' brought 10 Opinions. And when there be many
' Opinions of the one Side and the other, it is
■ Reafon, that the Thing be doubtful, WW all O-
' pinions come to one ; And that there be one
' Faith, one God, and one Trinity.
' Now, to turn to my Purpofe, I fay. That
' ftnce the Dodtrine of Proieftants is fo uncertain*
' Cleaving to call it falfe; there is no Reafon nor
' Juftice, that doth permit or fuffer, that Men
' fhould be forced to take it for certain, true and
' furc, and affirm the fame. It is fufficient, and
• enough for Proteftants to keep Pofleflion of tho
• Churches, and the Authority lo preach and ex-
VoL. IV. B ' communieaw,
■elb.
I
J
I
1 8 The Tarliamentary H i s T o p^ t
tnEiUibeib. • communicate, not to feek to fores and (train Men
'i**' ( to do or believe by Compullion what they be-
« lievc not i and not to fwear, and to make God
« Witnefs of their Lie.
Mr. Strype obrerves, hereupon, by the Way,
how much this Bill is {whether wilfully or igno-
rantly) reprefented by this Peer. For the Oath
therein required to be taken, is not to Iwear to the
Truth ot the Proteftant Religion, and the Doc-
trine thereof, (nor is ihcre the leaft Mention made
of Religion in the whole h&) but only that no
foreign Bifliop fchiefly meaning the BiOiop of
Rome) hath any Power or Authority in the
Queen's Realms and Dominions. Nor was ihis
Oath to be impofed upon all the Queen's Subjeifls
nniverfaily; but only fuch as (hould enter into
Holy Orders, or took any eminent Places and
Offices upon them ; which if they declined lo do,
and meddled not in the Government, no fuch
Oath was required of them. And thtfe is an
exprefs Provifo, that none fhal! be cuinpelted to
take it, but fome Eccleliaftical Perfons, that gave
juft Grounds of Jealouly to the State. And be-
lides, this Aft was found necelTary for the Secu-
rity of the Queen and her Government, (which
was at this Time in no fmall D.inger) as the
Tittle of the A61 ran. For the JJurance of the
Refit's Power over all her Stales and Subje^s •
And the Preamble of the Aft mentioned the Dan-
gers by- reafon of the Fauien of the ufurped Power
of the See of Rome, at ih'n Tune grcivh to marvel-
lous Outrage and ikeiitiovi BolJtiefs. After
this Caution, he goes on with this Lord's Speech.
' It is enough for them, [ihc Proteflants] and
* they might hold themfelves content, that there is
' no Impediment or Let made by the Catholicka,
' but that they may perfuade the People fo much a
* they lift, and teach and preach their Doilrine.
' As touching the Third, that is. Whether this
* Statute fliould be poITible, meet and convenient,
! 10 be put in Execution ; I fav, That on what is
*■ laitj
0/ E N G L A N D. ip
{kid in the fecond Chapter of ^ujlice^ dependethQ2«en^>"b«th.
and is contained the Underftanding of this Third, '5^**
touching the Commodity and Poffibility. For it
is an ealy Thing to underftand, that a Thing fo
unjuftly, and fo contrary to alJ Reafon ahd Li-
berty of Man, cannot be put in Execution, but
with great Incommodity and Difficulty, For
what Man is there fo without Courage and Sto-
mach, or void of all Honour, that can confent or
agree to receive an Opinion and new Religion by
Force and Compullion ; or will fwear, that he
thinketh the contrary to that he thinketh. To
be flill and diilemble may be born and fuifered for
a Time ; to keep his Reckoning with God alone ;
but to be compelled to lie and to fwear, or elfe to
die therefore, are Things that no Man ought to
fuffer and tndurc. And it is to be feared, rather
than to die, they will feek how to defend thcm-
felves : Whereby (hould enfue the contrary of what
every good Prince and well-advifed Common-
wealth ought to feek and pretend, that is, to keep
their Kingdom and Government in Peace,
' So that this Law and Statute that is pretended,
fince it is not neceflary for Men, without they
Jeave Quietnefs and Peace ; nor juft and reafon-
able, feeing it forceth Men to hold for certain and
true, that they (hould hold for doubtful and falfe ;
and being incommodious and impoffible to be put
in Execution, for the Alterations that may enfuo
of great Unjuitice ; I conclude, that by no Means
any fuch Law ought to be made and enabled.
' And becaufe fome faid. This need not be fear-
ed, nor ought any thing to be a Stop ; becaufe the
greater Part of the Aflembly of the Lords and
the Higher Houfe, was of the Mind and Opinion,
that the Law ought to be made, including in the
feme Aflembly the B^bapi that are twenty -five i
I anfwer. That they neither can, nor ought to
have to do in this Matter, becaufe they are as
Party, and therefore cannot be Judges. And
that they have Parly, and have Intereft in this
Matter, it cannot be denied ; fince, ipfofa^o^ they ^
B a * have
Queen Eliztbeth,
10 The Parliamentary H i stort
have difpoiTeiTed the Catholick Bifliops of their
Churches, under this Occafion and Colour, to
bring into the Realm better Doflrine. Befides all
this, neither the Law nor the Gofpel, nor other
Civil Law doth fufFer Ecclefiaftical Perfons, to
have more than the Judgment and Examination
of the Dodlrine and Excommunications. And,
according to this, it belongeth not to the Bifhops,
but only to declare and pronounce the Dodlrine,
of the Papifts, to be falfe, as they have done ; and
to excommunicate fuch as follow the fame. To
appoint afterward the Temporal Penalties of
Confifcation, Banifhment or Death ; this apper-
taineth not to them, but to the Secular Judge ;
who, according to the Neceffity of the Common-
wealth, for Peace and Quietnefe of the fame,
may execute and proceed againft fome excommu-
nicate Perfons with more or lefs Rigour after, as
he (hall think good.
' It fhall be alfo very juft, reafonable and conve-
nient for the Service of the Queen, that the Lords
of the Realm alone, without the Bifliops, do con-
fider, if it be meet and convenient for the Wealth
of the Realm, to make this Statute and Law fo
rigorous ; or whether that that is made already
be lufficient ; or whether it be meet and conve-
nient (to take away all Inconveniences and Da-
mages that may arifeof thofe Diverfities and No-
velties in Religion) to command the Bifliops all,
as well Papiftical as Proicftants, to find the Means
to try the Matter (afore difputed herej within the
Realm, or in the general Council. The which
feemeth fliould be much more cafy, more fure,
and more convenient.
* And, furthermore, fince it belongeth to the
faid Lords, not to endanger their Lives and Goods,
if any War fliould happen within the Realm, or
with their Neighbours ; let them therefore take
good Heed, and not fufFer themfelves to be led
by fuch Men that are full of AfFeition and Paf-
iions, and that look to wax mighty, and of Power,
« by
r
Oy E N G L A N n 51
by the Confifcalion, Spoil and Ruin of iheQ^wnElinbeili.
Houfes of noble and ancicntMen.* 's*^-
To ihbSpeech made In the Houfe of Lords, Wc
(hall llibjoiii another Oration in the Houfe of Com-
mons, againftthe faidBill of the Oath oi Supremacy,
by Mr. jftiin/oit, aforefaid, fpoken the loth Day of
March ; but it b not meniioned in the Jouraah,
Right Hmourobk,
m *■ "VTO U have heard the Effefl of this Bill, con- ^, Atkinfcn'i
B * j[ taining in itfelf, that ali thofe that {h.ill by Sprech 3%un& ,
' * any open Adt, maintain any foreign JurifJiction/'^-o^'*' °^^^'
* or fhall refii'e the Oath, which islikewjfe for the'"'"^''-
* abolifliing of all foreign Power; that fuch Of-
* fenders (hall, for the firft Offence, incur the Dan-
t* %tT oi Premu7iire ; and if they eftfonesrefufeagain,
' ihen to be judged as in Cafe of High Trcafon,
• Whether any foreign Power be lawful to be re-
* ceived within this Realm, or whether in Confci-
* ence a Man ought to i-jke this Oath, that Matter
* I purpofe not now to difpute ; for that is already ■
* put out of Queftion by Confent of the whole.
* Realm, in High Court of Parliament, in the firlt
* Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lady that
* now is ; againft which it ihall not become me to
* reafon. But, Mirrie, whether an Offence com-
■ mitted againft that Statute be fo Iharply to be pu-
* ni[hed as this Bill here lequireth, that is the Que-
* ftion that we now have in Hand. Wherein I
* ihiok that the Puniflimentalready deviled is fufli-
' cient ; that thePunilhnient limiied in this Bill is
* t90 rigorous ; and that though this Adl went for-
' ward, yet no Beneiit could thereof grow to the
' Commonwealth.
' If the Offence were Treafon, as it was faid
' this other Day, in the Houfe, that it was; and
' that the Offenders therein Were Traytors even by
' the common Laws of the Realm, as Men that
' fought lo lake the Crown from the King, and
' give it the Pope, then would I think no Punifli-
' menttoo little for ii : And Piiv it were, thate-
83- ' vea
J
12 The Tarliamentary History
QymEliulKth. yen for ihc firft Offeree it was not made Death.
»56*' ' Howbeit, if it may be proved unto you, that the
' Maintenance of Foreign Jurifdiftion was not by
the Laws ever accounted Treafon; then I truft
* there will no good Man think, but that the Of-
' fence being not fo great, the Punifliment ought
* not to be fo great neither. I would agree. That
* theancient Writers of the Law, as boih Brai7w
' and BriUn have, in their Writings, railed the ,
' King God's Vicar in Earth: And fo lalient to
' that that Sklpmiih faith. That there is the Dcanry
* of Pickering in Ireland belonging to the Arcbbi-
* fhop of Devilingy [ i. c. Dublin ] and that it is of
* this Condition, That if an En/l/Jiman bs made
* Archbifhop, that then he fhall have the Deanry as
' his free Chapel ; and if an Irljhman, then the
* King. His Reafon is, ^ia Regesfacn 0!eo unlii
* Spirituals Jurifdiclionii fiinl tapaces, i. f. Becaule
* Ihe Sacred Majefty of a King anointed with Holy
* Oil, hath Capacity of Spiritual Jurifdi<nion. , I
' likewife agree to the Saying of Brian, where he
' faith. That a great Do£tor of Law once told
* him, That a Prieft, by Prefcriplion, might be im-
* pleaded in the Kin^s Temporal Court, ^ia R£x ,
* e^ Perfina mixta ex Sacerdotibus is? Laitis ; /. «. ,
* Becaufe the Perfon of a King is mixt of Prieft-
* hood and Laity.
' Of all which we may gather, That by Ihc
* Common Laws the King may have the Tcm-
* poral Profits of a Spiritual Promotion, and alfo
' implead a Spiritual Perlbn in his Temporal Court.
' All which, notwithftanding, I am fure no Autho-
' rity can be (hewed to prove, that the affirming,
* that the Pope ought to have Jurildiftion in thefe
* or other like Matters, or that the Jurifdidtion of
* them ought not to appertain to the King, was ne-
^ ver yet accompted Tieal'on.
' And therefore luppcfelhjt the King had brough:
* a ^lareimfedit againft aSpiritual Perfon, fwhich
* is a Plea merely Temporal, determinable in the
< Temporal Court) and that the Spiritual Perlbn
\ bad thought to appeal to Rome in Stay of the
Judgmept y
\
0/ E N G L A N D. 23
Judgment; had this been Trcafon ? Nay, furc-QuwrnEiiiabetfc.
ly, though without fomc open Aft fhewing the 1561.
Ikme, it was never yet taken to be Treafon ; nor
was it ever yet feen, that a Man in fuch a Cafe
was bound to difcover his Confcience upon his
Oath. Bu: to go further, fuppofe he had expref-
ly faid before Witnefs, that he would appeal to
Rome ; nay, fuppofe he had appealed to* Rome in-
deed ; had this been Treafon ? Nay, it was never
yet but Pnmunire ; and not Premunire neither,
till the Statute of the 27 th of Edward the Third
made it fo. But was this an Offence again ft the
King's Crown and Dignity ? But fo are many
OflFences that are not Treafon ; and are not, as he
laid, Crimina lafa MajedatiSy but Crimina mi*
nuta Majejlath.
* If then to affirm, that the Pope ought to have
Jurifdi(5tion in a Temporal Matter, were not
Treafon j much lefs were it Treafon to affirm the
fame in Spiritual Matters : As to fay, that the
Confecration of Archbifhops belonged to him, or
that the Order of Service and Sacraments ought
to be direfted by the See Apoftolick. What the
Judges have faid in our.Law in the Behalf of the
Pope, that fpare I here for Duty's Sake to fpeak
of. I am fure it was more than I have hitherto
faid : And yet v/ere they, I believe, as (killful in
knowing what Treafon was, and as loth to ofiend
therein, as was the Gentleman that went about
with fo many Reafons to prove it Treafon ; nor
Moubt not, but even at thofe Times when Princes
fufiered this Offence .to remain unpunifhed, and
when the Subjedts oflbnded in it, that yet they had
as great a Cafe to maintain the Royal Dignity of
the Crown ; JM|d were other wife as void of traite-
rous Hearts> at thofe that think thdnfelves belt
Subjefts. *^,.
' And therefore we reaS^- that in the. Time of
Edward ^t> Firft, thePt^ willed the King to
take Peace with Sctfland^ and he made him An-
fwer, Tbf^icuching bis Temporalities^ he knew no
Peer in his Realm. And the like Letters was fent
f in
i4 The Tarliamentary H i s t o r. t
[niH«beih. ' in the Time of Henry the Sixth ; and Humfrty,
* ihen Duke of Ghi/c^er, hurled them in the Fire.
* And, whofoever readeth the Statute o( Premunire
* made in the 1 6th Year of Richard the Second ,
* ihatl find that all the Lords, both Rpiritual and
« Temporal, faid. That they would Jlici with tie
* King in the Maintenance ef hii Crszvn nnd Digni-
* ty. And they were therefore teverally examined,
* to the Intent thatthcir Opinion might be known.
* If then il hath been proved, that that OtFence halh
* not been Treafon, nor that the Offenders therein
* have not otherwife born itaiterous Hearts; 1 trudi
« that the Offence being not fo great, you will not
* without Caufe go about to encreafe the Punilh-
* ment.
' Let us therefore never go about to aggrieve the
* Matter, or make it worfe Ihnn it is; but let us
* coniider it in fuch Sort, as it is indeed ; that is, an
* Offence in Religion, and an Offence againft ihc
* Statute made in the firft Year of the Queen's Ma-
* jefty. And then, whether fuch an Offence be to
* be puniflied by Death, either for the Prefervaiion
* of the Common Peace, or elfe by the exprefs^
» Laws of God, that Matter falleth further in Con-'
* fultaiion.
' As for the Scripture, I muft confefs myfelfig-
* norantin them, as the Thing that is not my Pro-
* feffion, nor in which! have been exercifed ; Yet
' thus much have I heard the Preachers fay, that,
* are now. That though, in the old Law, Idolatry'
* was'punirtiedwiih Death ; yet fince the Coming
< of Chrill f who came to win the World by Peace,
* and bade Put up the Sword',) the greateft Punilh-
* ment that hath been taught by the Apofties in cafe
* of Religion, hath been by Excommunication.
* For Religion, ihey fay, muft fink in by Pe^fuafi-
^ on ; it cannot be prefled In by Violence. And
' therefore they called the A& of the Six Articles,
* that was made the 31ft of King Hemy the Eighth,
* The Whip w'ih the Six Liiflh-s. And as for the
1 Dealings in Qyeen Mary'% Days, the)t*uch mif-
s lij^ed them ; calling the Bifhups Blood-Jiiders, and
* bade
0/ E N G L A N D. 25
bade Fie m tbefe Tormenters, that delightid in no- ^^^^^^^^'
thing elje hut in the Death of Innocents ; that threat
Uned the whole Realm with their fire and Faggots ;
Murtherers ; that they were were worfe than Cai-
aphas, worfe than jMdTiSy worfe than the Tray tors
that put Chntt to Death. And that with liicb
Vehemency and Stomach, as I aflureyou I mar-
vel, how it can poffibly come to pafs, that they
fhould now deiire to eftabli(h that as a Law, which
they thought then fo far unlawful.
* And indeed many a Solemn Qerk and Holy
Father hath there been in the Church, that have
much miflrked that cruel Handling; and have
wifhed rather the Opinions of the Men to be taken
away than the Men themfelves ; and would have-
them convinced Magis Verbo quam Vi^ /. e. Ra-
ther by the Word than by the Sword. Howbeit^
what was the Caufe, why in allChriilian Realms.
Offenders in Religion were punifhed by Death : .
And further, how far the Punifhment that is here •
devifed, exceedeth that in Rigour and Cruelty •*
And laftly, how Offenders in this Cafe of ReUgi- •
on ought not to be puniflied by the one, nor by
the other ; that Matter fhall I make fo plain and •
fo evident unto you, that I truft no charitable
Man will confent to the paffing of this Bill.
* Firjly As for Excommunication^ that was thought
fo eafy a Punifhment, that it was the Thing that
they gladly would have wifhed for. For what
could pleafe them better that had already forfakefi
the true Faith, than to be punifhed from the Com- •
pany of all thofe thai believe otherwife than them- •
felves ? Therefore was Fining and Ranioming
devifed againfl the Manichees. But that would
not ferve ; for either had they nothing to lofe, or •
elfe were willing to lofe that they had. Then
was it further devifed and enadted. That they '
fhould be imprifoned. But Imprilbnment would
not help neither. For the Number of them was
fucb as the Prifons could not hold them ; and the
Keepers many Times were corrupted. Then was
f Baniihment devifed ; but that was worfl of all o-
« ther;
^een Elizabeth.
1562.
26 T7je Parliamentary H i stort
ther. For then would they, by their Letters^
openly defame thofe, by whom, for their Naugh-
tinefs they had received any Damage. And fur-
ther, not keeping their Confcience to themfelves,
^ ceafed not by preaching in Woods and Cellars, by
dealing in Hugger-Mugger feditious Books of
their own making, keeping of Midnight-Ledures,
making of Enterludes and Ballads, to allure other
filly Souls to their Naughtinefs ; fo far forth that
if better Remedy had not been provided, this Can-
ker would have crept over the whole Body of
Chriflendom. Nor were they fo contented nei-
ther, but fell to open Violence, as robbing and
fpoiling of Churches, and taking other Mens
Goods from them. Infdmuch that the Stories of
the Church make mention, That when the Ma-
cedonians and the CathoHcks fhouldcome before the
Deputy of Philippus, for hearing of their Contro-
verly; and that the Throng was great, the Mace-
donians fell in Hand with them, and faid. That
by the Number of them it fliould feem rather
that they came to fight with them than to dif-
pute ; and therewith drew their Weapons upon
them, and flew them to the Number of three
thoufand. For which Violence of theirs, it was
ordained, bv Confent through Chrijlendom^ That
Violence mould be offered them again. And
their Offence for common Quietnefs &ike, and for
the Peace of the Church, puniihed in this Sort :
l^hat is to fay. That if it were by open Witnefi
proved, that any had offended, that yet he might
abjure for the firft Offence, if he would ; and
upon Penance and Repentance made, be received
into the Church again. But if heeftfones fell in
Relapfe, then he Ihould be left to the Secular
Hands.
* Which Punifliment, as it was, was yet much
more eafy, than that which is here devifed- For
there you fee, unlefs he had been convinced by
Witnefs for fome open Fad done, he was with-
out Danger of the Law. But here, though he
intended to live under a Law> and keep his Con-
- • fciencc
0/ E N G L A N D. a;
fcience to himfelf, yet will we grope him, and fee o«^„pi:„u^u
what fecretly lieth in his Bread : And to the In- ^561.
rent he fhall not dally with us, we offer him an
Oath, which many a Man fhall take that under-
ftandeth not what it meaneih. There you fee
the firft Offence was not punilhed ; but he had
Leifure to bethink him and mend. But here the
very firft Offence is punifhed ; and by what Pu-
nifhment ? Forfooth, by Judgment ofPremumrt^
which is Lofs of Lands and Goods, his Body in
Prifon at the Queen*s Will and Plcafurc ; and
yet he b in no great Surety of his Life neither.
For if any Man, upon Difpleafure, (hould kill
him, his Friends might well lament bis Death,
but they could not punifh it. For a Man at-
tainted in Premunire^ is pgrdie out of the Protedli-
on of the King, and of the Laws. Yea, and be<*
fides all this, not a Man dare give him his Alms,
left he fhould be an Aider and Maintamer withiu
the Compafs of this Statute {a.)
* Therefore, methinks, the Law was a great
deal belter, and furely much more profitable for
the Commonwealth, that was made in the firft
Year of the Queen's Majefty. For there we fee
the firft Offence* is not fo grievouily punifhed.
And if every Ecclefiaftical Pcrfon, every Judge
and other Officer, every one that is of the Queen's
Fee, every Man that (hall fue Livery, all Scholars
that are in the Univerfity,be fworn, (as they muft
be by the fame Statute) what Mifchief can there
be wrought, but it fhall be efpied and quenched ?
Is it not, think you, aneafier Way to win Men
(for win them we muft, if we fhall do well) to
leave a Gap for him open to Promotion, if he
embrace thefe Proceed ing'f, than, if he refufe
them, to take that he hath from him ? Is it not
a fufficient Punifhment for him, that no Man
(hall, by his Wit and Learning, fo long as he con-
linueth that Opinion, bear any Office, or have
* any
(a) ThereisaProTifo m thii Statute agaiaftthisCoo&quence of
tremunire, and fb there is another againft the former, Strjpt»
a 8 7 he Tarl'iamentary History
, ' any Countenance in this Commonwealth?
' ' Wbat Belter Proof can you have of the Good-
* ncfs of the Law, that you fee, fmce that Time,
' no great Breach of [he Law; no feditious Con-
* gregations, no Tumult, but the Common Peace
' well kept, and every Man liveth under a Law
' without Difturbance of the Queen's Proceedings }
' So that that PuniQiment being fufficient, it is in
* vain Co defirea greater to keep them under.
' Let us follow the Example of ihe Queen's Ma-
' jefty ; whofe Gracious Hrghnefs hath with fuch
' Clemency rultd us, and fo tempered her Juftice
* viiith Mercy, as I ween never Prince iince the
* Conqueft (Ifpeak it without Flattery) hath for
' the Time rei^^ned over us in a quieter Peace, wiih
' more Love and lefs Exaflion. The Honour be
' to her gracious Majcily, and ihofe good Counfel-
' lors that have had that Statute in Hand.
' Buc, to go on ; fuppoie it were palled fori
' Law, what great Good could we reckon ihould
* grow to the Commonwealth by it ? You will
* fay, a Sort of ftubborn Papifts fliould he rid out of
' the Way ; who, if they lived, would be Caufers
* of Sedition ; and Sedition muft needs be the
* Caufe of Defolation. Surely, if the whole Num-
' ber, that think againft the Oath in their Con-
' fcience, ftiould refufe the Oath, and for the Of-
' fence be executed; the Realm could not chufe but '
* be much weakened, and a great deal the lefs able
' to defend itfelf. We may partly fee it by the U-
' niveriiiies, that what with the one Side and the ,
* other, hath been fo Jliaken for Religion, that
* Learningis almoft quite decayed in them. And if
' Provilion be not made, all like to come to a bar-
* barous Ignorance.
' But fuppofe you that the greateft Part will re-
* fiife the Oath ? Think you that ail that take ic,
' will upon the taking of it change their Confci-
* ences? Nay, many a fall'e Shrew there is, that
' will lay his Hand to the Book, v-hen his Heart
' (liall be far off. Of this hath this Houfe full Ex-
' pcrience. For in the Bill of conveying over of
* Horfes,
0/ E N G L A N D. ap
Horfcs, there was a Claufe, that whofocvcr would Q{iecaEiitabctir«
fwear that it was for his ncccflary Travel, it was »$•»•
lawful. And becaufe Men fticked not at fuch a
Trifle to forfwear themfelves, that Claufe was re-
pealed. And upon like Ccmfideration, by the
grave Advice of this Houfe* was the Oath left out
of the Subfidy^Book. If Men for fuch Trifles
will forfwear themfelves, it cannot chufe but be
perillous, when their Goods, Lands, Liberties and
Lives, (hall depend upon it. And namely lipon
a Matter, whereof for the moft Part they have no
Knowledge ; but all one to them, whether it be
fo, or otherwife. And fo protefting that to be
in their Confciences, whereof they ftand in Doubtj
they (hall wilfully forfwear themfclves.
* And if Men were feditious before, now will
they become ten Times more feditious. Neither
fliall the Queen's Majefty be ever a whit the Surety
which is the Title, and as itfliould feem the only
Meaning of this Bill. For if any were rebellious
before, now will his Heart become more rebelli-
ous ; for that he is enforced to Perjury : And
that Mifchief will fecretly keep in his Mind, and
(hew it then, when he thinketh it will do molt
Harm. Or elfe, if he be not thus wickedly dif-
pofed, then will he linger on in Defpair, and with
Violence at the laft feck to deftroy himfclf, which
were too lamentable to hear of: Andwc the
Caufe of all this Mifchief.
« Let us therefore, for the Honour of God, leave
all Mbilice, and notwithftanding Religion, let ut
love together. Fof it is no Point of Religion,
one to hate another. Let us make an End of
Divilion, for fear left our Enemies, who arc
mighty, and now in the Field, might, peradven-
ture, finding us at Diflention among ourfelves,
the eafilier vanquifh us. Whereas, if we can a-
grcc and love together, there (hall be no Doubt,
but we (hall put them now to the worft, whom
we have often vanquifhed before. Let us do as
the good Mother did before Solomon^ who when
J ffic had Contention before the wife King for her ^
• own
30 The Parliamentary Histort
Queen Elkabcth.' own Child with the common Harlot, and that
1562. < the Matter went fo hard, that he could not tell to
* whom to give it, but thought to divide it; the ten-
* der Love of the Mother, confidering that the
* Child's Divifion ftould be the Child's Deftruai-
* on, could not fuffer that, but was content to
* yield up, and giveaway herlntereft. So let us,
* for the Love of God, forget and forgive all Griefs
* for the Commonwealth's Sake, and let us love
* one another : For fo fliall no Divifion work the
' Defolation of our Kingdom.
* And when we have done all, to this we mull
* come at laft. We fee in Germany^ where after fo
* long Contention, and fo great Deftrudlion and
* Wafte of their Country, at laft they are come to
* this Point; that the Papift and Proteftantcan now
* quietly talk together, and never fall out about the
* Matter. I bcfeech you, therefore, Right Honou-
* rable, that you will well remember the Truft that
* your Country putteth in you ; and fince you
* have the Sword in your Hand to ftrike, be well
* ware whom you ftrike. For fome fhall you
* ftrike that are your near Friends, fome your
* Kinfmen, but all your Countrymen, and even
* Chrifljans. And tho' you may like thefe Doings,
. * yet may it be that your Heirs after you may ir^if-
* like them ; and then farewel your Name and
* Worftiip. Remember that Men that offend this
« Way, offend not as Murtberers and Thieves do ;
* that is, of Malice and wicked Intent, but through
* Confcience and Zeal, at leaftways through Opi-
* nion of Religion. And if it.Jhall happen them to
* die in the wrong Opinion, then fhall we not only
* deftroy the Bodies, of which there is no fmall
* Force, but their Souls ; which is a Lofs that can
* never be recovered. And if they (hould doita-
* gainft their Confciences, to fave their Lives, and
* feem, peradventure, in Doubt of the Matter ; then
* (hould they fall unto Perjury, and we become
* Caufersofit. And fith they keep their Confci-
* ences to themfelves, and live under a Law, why
* are they to be puniihed by fo iharp a Law ? And
^ t though
O/- E N C L A N D. 31
* though fome peradventure have offended you, yet Qi»««« Eiiiabctlu
* do not for their Sakes punifh the reft, who never '5^-
* offended you ; but rather for the others Sakes,^ who
* are the greater Number, forgive aTl.
' Follow the Example of the good Mother in Sa^
' bmorij or rather the Example of the Queen's Ma-
* jefty, whom I pray God may long reign over us,
' and her Iffue after her.*
In Anfwer to thefe, and fuch like Speeches againft
the Bill, Mr. Strype ^ves us an Argument of fome
other Metnber unknown, well skilled in the Laws,
in favour of it, and againft the former Reafons and
Confiderations. A Copy of it came into the Hands
of Archbifhop Parker^ who fent it to Cox^ Bifhop
of £^. And from that very Copy Mr. Strype
Uanfcrib'd the Tenor of it : m.
* T N the Time of King Edward III. One (hould An Argunwit
^ X ^^^^ b^n hanged, drawn and quartered, for for tlie Bin.
* publifhing an Excommunication, dire6ted from
* the Bifhop of Rome againft one of the King's
* Subjeds. But at the Entreaty of the Lord Chan-
* cellor and Lord Treafurer, his Life was pardoned ;-
' Notwithftanding, be was abjured the Realm. If
* ratifying Part of the Pope's Authority was fo pu-
* nilhed, the Confenting to the whole muftof Nc-
* ceffity be High Treafon.
* In the Statute of 25. Ed. ^.de Proditionibtis.
* Cap. zdo. If a Man be adherent to the Enemies
' of the King in his Realm, finding them Aid and
* Comfort in the Realm, or any other Place, it was
* High Treafon : But to be fworn to the Pope,
* being the Queen's Enemy, and [the Party] fo re-
» main, and will not refufe the Oath to him, nor
* fwear to the Queen, is to comfort the Queen's
* Enemies. Therefore High Treafon.
* In the 12 Hen.']. Fineux^ Chief Juftice, thus: As
* in Spiritual Matters towards God, fo it is in Tem-
* poral Matters towards the Prince. And therefore
* at the iSheriff's Turn every Subjed ought to be
* jvefeut to learn bis Duty, But in Spiritual Mat-
* tcrs.
3 2 The Tarliament'ary Histort
QLitenElUibeth. ' tcr?, not 10 affirm, maintain, and uphold God,
*f6i. ' and all Things tmiching the Subftance of Religi-
* on, viith Heart, Mind and Power, fs horrible
' Herefj' : So, not to maintain the Prince, his
* Stile, the Royal Dignity of the Crown with Heart,
' Mind and Power, is High Treaton. But he that
* refufeth 10 fwear * to the Prince doth Co, i^c
' Therefore he is a Traitor.
* I Hen. 7. HuJJey ("Chief Juftice in the Time
* of Edw. 4.) faid, a Legate was at Calais, from the
* Pope, for to have the King's fafe Conduit to
' come into the Realm. And then in open Coun-
* til before the Lords and Juftices, it wasdemanded,
* What fhould be done ? Who anfwered, That
, • they Would Tend unto the Legate ; and if he
* -would fwear, That he had brought nothing with
* him in Derogation to the King, and of his Crown,
* that he fhould have Licence, or otherwife, not;
* And the Bifhop of Efy caufed the Pope's Legate
* to fwear. That he had nothing 'that Ibould be
* prejudicial to the King and his Crown : And then
* he entered. \{ a Stranger was compelled for to
* fwear for the Safeguard of the Prince before his
' Entry into the Realm ; much more a natural-born
* Subjeil {hould not live in the Realm, except he
* would be fworn for the Safeguard of the Prince,
' and Dignity of the Crown.
' Pr^diff. Jnrio, B\ii{ey pradUl. faid, That in
* the Time of Edward I. the Pope fent Letters to
* the King, tnat he fliouM make Peace with^fs/-
* /dW, and that he Ihould put the Matter to his
' Order. The King, by the Alvlce of his Coun-
* cil, fent Word, That he would not commit the
* Matter to be ordered by the Pooe. And all the
* Lords writ unio the Pope, That although the
* King would give away his Right that he had in
* Scotland, that he Ihould not do it ; becaule it was
* his Right to have the Supreme Government of
' .Sailand. And further, theiJifiiopofion^/onfaid,
* at the fame Time, That he faw, in the Time of
* King Henry VI, when the Pope fent Letters
* which were in Derogation of the King, and the
* Spiritual
Of EN GL AN D. 33
* Spiritual Men durft not fay any Thing againft Gn^^u^t^
* them, that Humphrey Duke of GUuceJler took ^^u*
* the Letters, and ca(t them into the Fire* and burnt
* them. If the Nobility, our Anceftors, have fo
* ftoutly maintained the Right of the Prince againft
^ the Pope, (hall we feem now to maintain the
' Pope and his Authority, in refufing to punifli
* thofe with fo juft a Law, tl at do» for Maintc-
* nance of the Pope, refufe to fwear their Oath of
* Allegiance to their Sovereign Lady and Queen ?
• 1 3 Hen. 8. Treafon may be in Intendment
* only. Felony muft be in Adt always. But who-
' fo refufeth to fwear to the Prince, difclofeth the
* Intendment of his Heart to be traiterous. There*
' fore, Vc. After tbefe Allegations out of Hiftofy,*
^ then it was further {hewn as followeth :
' Fir/f^ By Aft of Parliament made in the firft
' Vear of the Queen, the Supreme Government
* over her Spirituality and Temporality, was given
^ to her ; and the extolling of the Bifhop of Komt
* made Premunire for the fecond Offence ; and
* Treafon the third Time : And the offering of
' the Oath appointed, and the Refuial thereof by a-
* ny, made the Lofs of his Ofiice [the firft Time J
* The new Bill maketh for the firft Offence, of ex-
^ tolling of the Bifhop of Rome^s Authority, or Re-
' fuial of the Oath, Premunire ; and the fecond
* Time Treaion. For the extolling or fetting forth
* that Bifliop's Authority, all do condefcend the
' Penalty is not uhreafonable ; but only to force
* the Oath, which they fay toucheth the Q)nfci-
* ence^ which (hould not be ieairched, [that fome are
* againft.]
^ As to that, firft it muft be confidered, feeing it
* is eha£ted that both be Offences, what Pains the
* Offenders defcrve. T'he Contents of the Oath is
^ an Acknowled^g of the Supetiotity in the Prince,
* and Prpmife of Allegianice ; which is the Duty ot
* every Subjedt, as a Subjed in Temporal Caufcs,
* and toucheth no Spiritual Thing, but bindeth the
^ Subjeft by Promife to recognize the Sovereignty
* in his Prince. Which if a Man may be by his
34 7^^^ Parliamentary History
OucenSliubeth. * Prince commanded to confefs, if he refufe> is
»s6t. ' Treafon ; becaufe, in that he doth refuie it, he
' doth affirm the contrary of the Oath to be true.
* As for Example, if the Lord doth require his Te-
' nam to do Homage to him, wherein he doth but
* confefs him to be his Lord, and himfelf to be his
* Tenant ; if he refufe to do it, what elfe doth he,
* but difavow him to be his Lord ? To fay a Man
' may have a Confdence in it; to that, [lasK]
' Shall a Man have a Confcience in Cafes of Trea-
« fon?
' The Prince at her Coronation fwears to de-
* fend us ; Shall not we fwear to defend her ? The
' Refufal of the Oath was Treafon in the Time of
* King Henry, cflablilhed by Parliament. If then
* newly, upon new Proof of the Enormity of the
* Rotnijh Pradtices, the Refufal was Treafon at the
* firft Offence, when by common Reafon the Sud-
* dennefs of ihe Alteration might have endangered
* the State, if his [the Bifhop of i^smc's] Authority
* had been thought godly and lawful ; a multajorti-
* ori, now is it expedient to make the Offence
* Treafon at the fecond Time ; efpecially being fo
' long tried fay Learning and Reafon, to bean
* ufurped Authority ; and alfo by Length of Time
* worn far more out of Memory.
' We have promifed, in the Speaker's laft Mo-
* tion for Eftablifhrnent, to make Laws for her [the
, * Queen's] Defence. What belter Law may there
* be made? If we endeavour not to make it, wc
* break our Promife ; and fhe faid, She looked for
' Promife therein to be kept by us.
' If any Man be required, in the Qiieen's Name,
* to acknowledge her Queen of England over all
* her People ; if he refufe to do it, he is a Traitor.
* There is no other Thing in Effei5l comprized in
* the Oath. Therefore the Refufer of ihe Oath is a
' Traitor. And in that the firft,Offenceis'madePr^-
* muiiire, and the fecond Treafon, it is too mild for
* Ihe Offence j efpecially, the Wife's Dower, and
* the Heir's Inheritance without Corruption of
* Blood, being faved.
' To
0/ E N G L A N D. 35
* To fay, It was never made Trcafon, £rg}, not QufenEliMbetb.
* to be Treafon now, the Argument is not true. 'S'*"
' For if the Princes would have fo taken it, it were
' Treafon by the common Laws of this Realm ;
' but that King Hemy was abufed by Error. But
' if it were never Treafon before, feeing the Circum-
' fences of Time paft, prefent, and that may fol-
' low» it is expedient to make, upon the new Oc-
' cafion, new Laws, as is daily in other Cafes.
' If they fay, It toucheth Confciencej and it is
' a Thing wherein a Man ought to have a Scruple :
' But if any hath a Confcience in it, ihefe four
' Yeare Space might have fettled it. Alio, after
' hisfirftRefufal, he hath three Months Refpit for
' Conference, and fettling of his Confcience.
' Again, The Oath is not to be tendred to any,
• that by Intendment fliall want Reafon to know '
r* the Sovereignly of the Prince.
■ If any Man, be he never fo unlearned, do open-
l-ly pronounce the contrary of ihe Oath againft the
t Queen, they themfelves will fay. He defervetb
I Death as a Traitor ; -and that it is not Matter of
I'Hcrefy or Doftrine. If fo, it is to fee wheiher
i'the Denial to accept the fame be an Affirmation
I'to the contrary. Iffo, then Treafon doubUefs.'
Several more Afls were made this Seffion, which
* tiro' of not fo much Significancy to the State as (Tie
former, are yet worth Obfervatioti ; to fhew the
(xtraordinary Humour of the Times.
• An Aifl alfo was made by this Parliament, ^a apinft
againft fsrid andfantajlhalProph'efiii. The Ground ProphdiM.
and Caule of this Aft is afligned in the Beginning of
the laid Aft to be, ' That divers ill-difpofed Perfans
* in King Edward's Days, inclining to the moving
' of Faftions, Seditions and Rebellions within this
* Realm, made ufe of fond Prophefies to amufe the
pie eaiily carried away 6y fuch Deceits, which
■' apueared to them like fomething Divine.'
" :refore, an Aft was made againft thcfe Prophc-
ks in that King's Reign, which was expired.
^6 The Parliamentary Histort
QueenEiiubeth.But the like Praflice began now again to be uleJ,
1562. in fainitig, imagining, inventing and publiftiing luch
fend ami f^nlcjIUal Prephedlfs, as well concerning
the Queen, as divers honourable Perfonages of the
Realm, and others, to the great Dil'quiet, Trouble
land Peril of the Qyeen and Realm. Therefore,
now a new A£t was made againft fuch Framers
and Divulgers of idle Prophefies, And the Penalty
of a Year's Iniprifonment, and 10.', for every Of-
fence, was laid upon every one that did fet forth in
Writing, Printing, Singing, or by any other open
Speech or Deed, any fond anJ/alfi Prophefies ; upon,
or by Dccafion of, any Arms, fields, Beads, Badges,
or other fuch like Things accuftomed in Arms,
Cognizances or Signets; or upcm, or by reafor of
any Time, Year or Day, Name, Bloodfhed or
Wax ; to intend thereby to make any Rebellion,
Infurredtion.Difiention, Lofs ofLife, or other Dil-
turbance wiihin the Realm. The fecond Offence
was made Imptifonment during Life, and Forfeiture
of all Goods and Cha:iels.
' This Adt alfo was made to meet with thofe
that were difafFeited to the prefent Government and
Religion eiiablifhed : Who would privately foretcl,
by fome pretended hidden Skill, the fhcrt Duraiion
of the Qyeen's Reign, or the Time or Year of her
Death : And by the Coats of Arms, and Bearings
of fome of the Chief Perfons about the Queen, fas
the Bear and Ragged SiafF belonging to the Lord
Robert Dudley,'] f^c. would frame Significations of
Things fortunate to themlelves, and unformnale to
thofe they bore Jllwill to.
AifoagainflCon- * Another AiX was made agaifiji Conjurations^
juntioiiand Enthantmenls andWitchtrafts. That which gave
WiKbc»ft. Ground to this Aft was, ' That as ihefe wicked
* Practices now-a-Days prevailed much, fo there
* was no ordinary or condign Punifhment provided
* againft luchPraclicersof Conjuraticnsand Invoca-
* lion of wicked Spirits, So:ceries, Charms, En-
» chantments and Witchcrafts, the Statuie againft
* them 33 Htn. 8, having been repealed i Edw. 6.*
Since liie Repeal whetgtjfj many phauiafiical and.
iicviliUi.
0/ E N G L A N D. 37
devilidi Perfons had devifed and pra£tireJ Invocati-queenEliubr-Ji,
ons and Conjurations of Evil Spirits, and had uftd 1561.
and praflircd Witchcraft, Enchantments, t^c to the
Deftrudlion of this Realm, and for other lewd In-
tents and Purpofes. The Penalty of fuch was to
fufer the Pains of Death as Felons, when upon any
fuch Witchcraft or Enchantment, any Perfon Oiould
happen to be killed or deftroyed ; Or Tmprifonment
for a Year, and once every Quarter of the (aid Year
lo ftsnd upon the Pillory fix Hears in fome Markct-
1 -Town, and there openly confefs his Error and Of-
l^ce; when by fuch Enchantment or Witchcraft
I my Perfon was not killed, but wafted, confumed,
i'ta' lamed in his Rody or Members ; or whereby any
yGoodsorChatels ofany Perfon (hould be deftroyed,
"rafted or impaired. The iecond Offence to be
'rath.
' Another AQ. now made was. Fir ike due Ext- A€t relntinj to
kof/fM cfthe Writ de Excsmmumcam Copienda. LetE'comnmnioid.
^le alfo relate the Reafon and Occafion of this A£t j"'^
Bin the Preamble is fpecified : Namely, ' That
' diven Perfons offending in many grievous Crimes
f and Offences, appertaining to the Jurifdidlion of
f the Ecclefiaftical Courts, Were many Times un-
tpunifliedfor lack of goodanddueExecutionofihe
lifeid Wrh.' The great Abufe whereof was, Thai
ne faid Writ was not returnable into any Court,
but left to the Direiftion of the Sheriffs or their De-
puties ; by whofe Negligence and Defaults the Writ
by this Means was not executed at all. And here-
by fuch Offenders were much encouraged ,10 conr
imue their (inful Life. Therefore it was enafted.
That the faid Writ that fliould be awarded out of
the High Court of Chancery, (liould be made in
ihc Time of the Term returnable in the Court of
King's-Bench, in the Term next after the lejle of
ihe faid Writ. And that if the Writ delivered of
Record to the Sheriff, or his Deputy, were not duly
returned Ijefore the Juftices of the King's-Bench j
or that any Default or Negligence had been ufed, in
not wdi fcrving and executing it ; then they to
jfiefs luch Amerciament upon the faid Sheriff or
0 2 hit
38 The 'Parliamentary Histort
Qiic-nEHubeth. his Deputy, asthey fliould in their Difcrciion think
'' ^' meet. And in cafe the Sheriff, or hit Officer, return,
that the Party named in the Writ could not be
found within his Bailiffwick, then the Juftices of
the faid Bench to award a Writ of Capias. And
how that was to be managed, and the Punifhment
of the Perfon excommunicated, fs**-. may be read
in the Aft, the Particulars too Jong to be inferted.
• What the Crimes or Caufes of proceeding to
excommunicate any. and the faid Writ thereupon,
may be underftood by a Provifion in this Ad, viz.
That in the Signijicavit muft be mentioned the
Caufe of the Excommunication, as fome Matter
of Hctcfy. or refufing to have a Child baptized, or
to receive ilieHoly Communion as now common-
ly ufed to be received by the Church of England,
or [o come to Divine Service as now commonlj
ufed in the faid Church, or Error in Matter of Re-
ligion or Doiirine now received and allowed in
this Church; Incontinency, Ufury. Simony, Perjury
in the Eccleliaftical Court, Idolatry.
' This Adl feems to back and give a Force to
the Cenfurcs of the Bifhops. Which was needful
in this Jundure, to check Papifts, and other fcandal-
ous Crimes and corrupt Doftrines againft the Religi-
on, as now reformed. For in the Ait there is a
Saving to the Authority of ArchbifhopsandBilhops,
as to certify any Perfons Excommunicate, fo to
accept and receive the SubmilTion and Satisfaflion of
Perfons fo excommunicate in Manner and Form
heretofore ufed; and to abfolve and rclcafe them,
and the fame to figniiy, as heretofore Hath been ac-
cuilomed, into the Court of Chancery: And there-
upon to have fuch Writs for the Deliverance offuch
Perfons, fo abfolved and releafed, from the Sheriff's
Cuftody or Prifon, as heretofore they, or any of
them, had, or, of Right, ought to have."
Thus far Mr. Strype.
The reft of the A£ls pafled this SelTion are not much
?srr*d ^^^ *° °^^ Purpofe. Tho' there were feveral more
' good Laws made for the Relief of the Poor ; tlie
Punifhment
0/ E N G L A N D. 3p
Paniftiment of thofe Vagabonds, called Egypli'ins, Qaata'Eiittbeai,
and Forgers of Evidences. As, alfo, fuch as fliould 156*.
commit Sodomy or Perjury. Other Afts were
made for well-ordering of the Royal Navy ; for [he
Support and Improvement of Tillage, Several
more Attainders were alfo revers'd ; amongft which j^*^^'**'*"
that of the Children of Cranmtr, late Archbilhop of
Canterbury, is the moft remarkable. An Afl was
pafled for a Tratiflation of the Bible, and other Di-
vine Offices, into the Welch Tongue. Lallly, an
Aft was made declaring the Authority of the Lord
Keeper of the Great Seal of England and the Lord
Chancellor's to be all one. So that now Sir Nicholas
Bacen, Knight, who is, thro' both thofe Parliaments,
ftiled Cujtffs Magni Sigil/i, is declared to be the fame
^Lord High Chancellor of ^w^/aW. It is to be re-
marked, ihat Henry VIIL had, by Aft of Parlia-
ment, conligned the firft Place of Honour to the •
Lord Chancellor ; the fecond to the Lord Treafurer ;
the third tothePrefidentof his Majeity's Council ;
and the fourth to the Lord Privy Seal. And, they
were to take Place of all Dukes, except thofe
I of the Blood Royal.
In the Proceedings of the Houfe of Com-
mons, this Parliament, the Affair of the Queen's
i^arriage and fettling the Succeflion, was again re-
—Jiewed. We are told, that on January i6th 3
potion was made in that Houfe ; and on the
"[gih, the Speaker and twenty-four more were ap-
ointed a Committee to draw up che Form of a
•etition to her Majefty for the Piirpofe aforefaid.
And, on the i8th of the fame Month, the Speaker,
with the whole Houfe, attended on the Queen \
and after a fhort Oration of his own, delivered their
■Petition to her. The Form of which is preferved
in D'Ewes's Journals, as follows :
* \rOUR Commons in this your Majefty's Aaoth„ Petition
* X prefent Parliament aflembled, Moft Highorth* commoni
* and Mighty Princefs, our Moft Dread Sovereign f«":*«Qs«n »
* Lady, as they do daily, to their Commodity and"""^'
* Comfort, feel and receive the ineftimabk Benefits
[ of
Kain
etii
40 The Tarliamentary Histort.
OwMoEllnbeth. * of your moft gracious Government of ihis your
1561. * Realm, in Peace and Surety, fo do alfo moft
* thanlcfully aclinowledge ihe lame, befeething Al-
* mighty God long to blefs and continue yovirmolt
* profperous Reign over them ; and among all thefe
' Benefits which they daily receive of your High-
^ nefs, they have at this Time willed me, in iheir
* Nimes, to recognize unco your Highnefs, tli.it
J they account it not the leaft, but ralher among
* the greateit of them all. That your Majefty hath
* at this Time aflbmbled your Parliament, forfup-
^ plying and redrefling the greateft Wants and De-
* faults in your Commonweal, and for the edahlifh-
* ing the Surety of the fame ; which your Maje-
' fty's moft gracious Meaning, hath been at your
* Oammandment, fignified unto us, by the Right
* Honourable the Lord Keeper of your Great Seal
* of Enghnd ; namely in this, that he willed usfirft
* 10 have Coniideration of the greateft Matters that
* neareft toiich'd the State of the Realm, and the
* Prefervation thereof, feeming therein alfo to ex-
f ptefs unto us the Conformity of your Majefty's
' Mind, in having principal Relpefl to the Matters
* of greateft Weight ; and for that Refpe^ af-
* fembling this your Parliament. And forafmuch
' as your faid Subjedls fee nothing in this whole E-
* ftate of fo great Importance to your Majefty, and
' the whole Realm, nor fo neceiTary at this Time
* to be reduced to Certainty, as the fure Continu-
* aiice of the Government of the Imperial Crown
' thereof, and the moft honourable Ifl'ue of your
' Body (which Almighty God fend us to yoar
^ Highnefs's Comfort) and for Want (hereof, in \
' fome certain Limitation to guide the Obedience '
* of our Pofteriiy j and where Almighty God, to
* our great Terror and dreadful Warning, lately
' touched your Highnefs with fome Danger of your
.•■^..'- * moft noble Pcrfon, bySicknefs; from which fo
' foon as your Xjrace was, by God's Favour and
* Mercy to us, recovered, your Highnefs (ent out !
' your Writs of Parliament, by Force whereof your '
* Subjects are at this Time aflembled ; your faid
' Subjeiils
0/ E N G L A N D. 41
' Siibjefls are both by the Necefiity anJ Importance Qu«;
' of ihe Mailer, and by the Convenience of ihe
* Time of calling them immediately upon your
* Recovery, enforced to gather, and confeis, that
* your Majefty, of yout molt gracious and mo-
* iherly Care for them and their Pofterity, have
* fummoned this Parliament, principally for ella-
' blilhing of fome certain Limitation of the Impe-
' rial Crown of your Realm, for Prcfervation of
* your Subjects from certain and utter Deftruflion;
* fif the fame ftiould not be provided in your Life,
' which God long continue.) They cannot, I
* fay, but acknowledge your Majefty hath molt
* gracioufly confidered the great Dangers, the un-
* fpcalcable Miferies of Civil Wars, the perillous
, * Intermingling of Foreign Princes with fediti-
.'* ditious, ambitious and faftious Subjects at Home ;
* the Wafte of noble Houfe?, the Slaughter of Peo-
* pie, Subverfion of Towns ; Intermiflion of all
' Things pertaining lO the Maintenance of the
* Realm, Unfureiy of all Men's-PolTeflions, Lives
* and Eftates ; daily Interchange of Attainders and
* Treafons. All ihcfe Mifchiefs, and infinite o-
* thers, moll likely andevident, if yourMajeftyfhouId
* be taken from us, without known Heir, (which
S God forbid) to fall upon your Subjeifb, to the
* utter Subverfion of the whole, whereof you have
* Charge under God : It good Provilion fhould not
* be had in this Behalf. Your Majefty hath
* weighed the Examples of foreign Nations, as
* what enfued the Death of Great ^kxander, when
* for Want of certain Heirs by him begotten, or
■* appointed, the Variety of Titles, the Diverfityof
* Difpofilions in them that had Titles, the Amhi-
' tion of them that under Colour of Doubtfulnefs
* ofjTille forfook all Obedience of Titles, deftroy-
' ed his Dominions, and wafted Pofterity with
' mutual Wars and Slaughters: In what miferable
* Cafe alfovras thisRealm ilfelf, when the Title of
' the Crown was toiled in Queftion, between the
' two Royal Houfes of Lancaflir and York, till your
' moft noble Progenitors Henry the Seventh, and the
Lady
42 The Tarliamentary History
Queen EllMbeth/ ^^^X Elizabeth his Wife, reftorcd it to a fettled
1562. * ^ Unity, and left the Crown in a certain Courfe of
* Succeffion ? Thefe Things as your Majefty
* hath, upon your own Danger, moft gracioufly
* confidered for our Comfort and Safety ; fo we
* moft humble Subjeds, knowing the Prefervation
* of ourfelves, and all our Pofterity, to depend
« upon the Safety of your Majefty's moft Royal
< Perfon, have moft carefully and diligently con-
* fidered, how the Want of Heirs of your Body,
* and certain Limitation of Succeffion after you, is
* moft perillous to your Highnefi, whom God
* long preftrve amongft us. We have beenadmo-
* niftied of the great Malice of your foreign Ene-
* mies, which even in your Lifetime have fought to
* transfer the Dignity and Right of your Crown to
< a Stranger ; we have noted their daily moft dan-
* gerous Praftices againft your Life and Reign ; we
« have heard of fome Subjefts of this Land, moft
* unnaturally confederated with your Enemies, to
* attempt the Deftrudlion of your Majefty, and us
* all that live by you ; we fear a Fadlion of Here-
' ticks in your Realm, contentious and malicious
« Papifts, left they moft unnaturally againft their
* Country, moft madly againft their own Safety,
* and moft treacheroufly againft your Highnefs, not
* only hope for the woful Day of your Death, but
* alfo lay in wait to advance fome Title, under
* which they may revive their late unfpeakahle
« Cruelty, to the Deftruftion of Goods, Pofleffions
* and Bodies, and Thraldom of the Souls and Con-
* fciences of your faithful and Chriftian Subjefts ;
* we fee nothing to withftand their Defire, but
* your only Life ; their Unkindnefs and Cruelty we
* have tafted ; we fear much to what Attempt the i
* Hope of fuch Opportunity (nothing withftanding i
* them but your Life J will move them; we^find 1
* how neceflary it is for your Prefervation, 'that 1
* there be more Bounds fet between your Ma- \
' jetty's Life and their Defire ; we fee, on the other
* Side, how there can be no fuch Danger to your
* Majefty by Ambition of any apparent Heirefta- '
« blUhed
I
-*
0/ E N G L A N D. 43
' blifhed by your Benefi: and Advancement, for QuejnEKMbetfc,
' Want of Iflue of your Majcfty's Royal Body, as 1561 ,
' you are now fubjeft unto, by reafon of their De-
* lire and Hope ; we know not how many pretend
' Titles and Truft to fucceed you, whofefecret De-
' Gre we fo much more fear, becaufe neither iheir
' Number, Force, nor Likelihood ofDifpoficii
known unto us ; and fo we can the lefs beware of
* them for your Prcfervation.
' Weiind alfo, by good Proof, that the certain
' Limitation of the Crown of Frame, hath in that
' Realm procured fo great Quiet, as neither the
* Perfon of the Prince in PoUefTion hath been in-
* dangered by fecret or open Praflice; nor the Com-
' monweal molcfted by civil Diflention, through
* any Qyarrel attempted, for the Title of that
* Crown. And fomewhat near home, wc have
* remembred the miferable Ellate of Scotland, after
* the Death of King Alexander, without any certain
' Heir, or Limitation to whom the Crown of Scot-
* /an^ftiould remain ; by reafon whereof the whole
* Eftate of that Realm was left open to the Ambi-
* tion of many Competitors, and moll grievous
* Defolation and Spoil, that grew upon fuch Divi-
" fion ; which afterwards gave Occalion to King
^ Jamenhz Fifth, to limit the Crown of Scotland
* to certain noble Families of that Realm J where-
? by they, at this prefent, enjoy that quiet Surety
* which we want. And all your Majefty's moft
^ noble Progenitors, Kings of this Realm, have
' been in this Behalf fo careful, that from the Con-
quefttill this prefent Day, the Realm was never
left, as it is now, without a certain Heir, living
and known, to whom the Grown, after the
Death of the Prince, (hould appertain. So, as
your Majefty of your lingular Care for us, and
our Pofterity, hath at this Time aflembled us, for
eftablifliing this great and only Stay of our Safeties :
We again, Moft Gracious Sovereign Lady, ac-
knowledge our felves, and all that we have, to
depend upon your Prcfervation, being according
'* to our bounden Duty, moft careful of the fame.
44 The Tarliamentary Histort
Uuren EHiibeili ' are 111 moft humb'e Manner come to your Maje-
Ji6a, « fty's Prefence ; And I, the Mouth appointed for
' thsm, together with, and in the Name of all your
* moft loving, natural and obedient Subjeds, do
' prefent unto you our moft lowly Suit and Peti-
' tion. That forafmuchasof yourMajefty's Perfon
' would come the moft redoubted and beft Heirs of
* your Crown, futh as in Time to come we would
* moft comfortably lee, and our Pofterity moftjoy-
* fully obey :
' It may pleafe your Moft Excellent Majefty, for
* our Sake% for our Prefervaiion and Comforts, and
* at ourmoft humble Suit, to take to yourfelf ibme
* honourable Husband, whom it fliall pleafe you to
* join unto in Marriage; whom, whaifocver he be
' that your Majefty (hall choofe, we proteft and
' promife, with all Humility and Reverence, to
* honour, love and fcrve, as to our moft bounded
* 'Duty fliallappertain. And whereby the Statute
* which your moft noble Father aiTented unto, of
* his moft princely and fatherly Zeal for his moft
' loving Subjetis, for the Limitation of the Succef-
* fion of the Imperial Crown of this Realm, your
' Majsfty ij the laft exprelsly named within the
' Body of the faid A&. ; and for that your Subjects
* cannot judge, nor do know any thing of the Form
* or Validity ofany further Limitations, left incer-
* tain for Want of Heirs of your Body, whereby
* fome great dangerous Doubt remaineth in their
* Hear;s, to their great Grief, Peril and Unqniet-
' nefs: It may alfo pleafe your Majefty, by Pro-
* cUmation of Certainty already provided, if anj'
* fuch be, or elfe by Limitations of Certainty, if
' none be, to provide a moft gracious Remedy in
' ' this great Ncceffity ; which, by your moft htv
* nnurahle and motherly Carefulnefs ior them, hath
' occafioned this Aflcmbly ; That in thisconveni-
* ent Time of Parliament, upon your late Danger
' moft grac;Qufly called, by you, for that Caufe,
* your Grace may now extend to us that great Be-
' nefit, which otherwife, or at other Times, per-
* haps, (hall never be able to be done again ; )o not
• only"
0/ E N G L A N D. 45
' only we.bulal! ours hereafter, and forever, (hall QuHnrilubtih,
' owe no lefs to your Majefty's Propagation of Sue- 156*.
' ceflion, than we do already owe 10 your moft fa-
' mous Grandfather, King Heniy the Seventh, his
' uniting of Divifion. And your SobjeiSs, on their
* Behalts, for your Majefty'a further AHiiraiice,
' whereupon their own Prefervation wholly dc-
' pendeth, fliall employ their whole Endeavours,
' and Wits, and Power, 10 renew, devife and efta-
* blifh the molt ftrong and beneficial Ads and Laws
' of Prefervation and Surety of your Majefty and
' of your Illue, in the Imperial Crown of this
* Realm ; and the moft penal, fharp and terrible
' Statutes, to all that fliall but once pradtife, and
' attempt, or conceive againft your Safety i that '
' by any poUible Means they may invent or cfta-
* blifh, with fuch Limitations of Conditions, and
* Reftraints to all in Remainders, fuch grievous
' Pains, and narrow Animadverfions to all that
* fhal! enterprize or imagine any thing in Prqudice
* of your Highnefs, and your Ililie, as your Majelly
' fliall not have any Caufe of Sufpicion, but moft
* afliired Ground of Confidence in all your faithful
* Subjcfts, continually watching and warding for
* your Prefervation, which God long continue,
* that you may fee your Childrens Children, to His
* Honour and our Comfort, and incline your gra-
' cious Ear to our moft humble Pelilions,*
No Anfwer was returned to thi» Addrefs, till the
itHa ai February ; and then Mr. Comptrulier, and
Mr. Secretary, acquainted the Houfe, ' That her^j^^ Oueen-*
* Majefty doubted not but the grave Heads of this (jigjt ^„5,.
» Houte did right \vell confider that flic forgot not
' the Suit of this Houfe, for the SucccfTion ; the
' Matter being fo weighty, nor could forget it.
' But flie willed the young Heads to take Example
■ of their Elders'. We may believe this Ihori An-
fwer to their long Addrefs was not well rclifhed by
the Commons ; but ftill, no farther Notice was
taken of it, 'till the laft Day of this SelTion. And,
On the loth Day ot April, the Bills being al!
fcady for the Royal Aflcnt, the Queen came to the
Houfe
■ rr^v.
46 Tbs Tarliamentary History
qoMnEliialitth. Houfe of Lords, in the Afternoon ; and, on prefent"
jjfo. ing the Bills, the Speaker of the Houfe of Com-
mons made the following Speech :
HIS it is, moft excellent and virtuous
Piincefs, ^c. As Nature giveth to every
reafonable Creature to fpeak, fo it is a Grace to
the Addrtfi for t [je viTell learned i and I reprefenting the Mouih of
image. , ^^^^ ^ Body as cannot (peak for itfelf, and in the
* Prefence of your Majeily's Perfon and Nobles,
* muft moft humbly deiire and crave of your High-
' nefs, to bear with my Imperfeilions.
* * This Commonwealth hath been, by God'a
* Providence, firft inftituted, and fince, by Mans
' Policy, continued ; wherein Juftice and good
* Counfel is moft to be preferred ; For ancienr
' Law-Makers, and Authors of good Laws, be wor-
* thy to be praifed, and had in perpetual Remem-
* brance ; and fuch are the Laws that we have
* made in this Commonwealth, as, in my Opini-
' on, do excell and p;ifs all other human Laws.
' Amongft divers Authors of good Laws, we
' have fet forth unto us, to the End they fliould not
' be forgotten, three Q^ieens ; the firft Palejlina,
* the Queen, reigning before the Deluge, who made
* Laws as well concerning Peace as Wat.
' The fecond was Ceres, the Queen, which
* made Laws concerning Evil-Doers. And,
' The third was Marc, Wife of Bathihcus, Mo-
* ther to Stillicus, the King, who enaded Laws for
' the Maintenance and Prefervation of the Good
I • and Well -Doers,
* And fince that Time, Etheldred, a King in
* this Realm, eftablifhed Laws, and fet in mod
. ' beaten, high, and crofs Ways, a Crofs, and therein
' * a Hand, with a Ring of Gold, pointing to the moft
I ' ufudl J which alfo ftood uniaken away ordimi-
* nithed during his Lifr.
' And fo you are the fourth Queen, Eftabliflier
i * of good Laws, our moft dread Sovereign Lady,
I' for your Time, as happy as any of the three;
' which Happinefs fot the preient I let flip, and de-
! fife
0/ E N G L A N D. 47
' lire, as all our Hearts dot ihal fome happy Mar- Queen Elinbnba
' riage to your Contentation migJir fliorily be 'S*'-
' brought to pafs. YourMajefty finding this Realm
' out of Order, and full of Abufes, have coniinual-
' ly had a fpecial Care to reform the. faid Abules;
' and for the more expelling thereof, have congre- •
* gated together this Aflembly, whereby partly to
' your Contentation, for Reformation of the fame
* to its old priftine Eftatc, and for Money and
* Peace is all that chiefly we have done; for which
* Purpofes, we have agreed upon and made certain
* Laws, which, until your Majefty have granted
* your Royal ftflent, and fo given Life thereunto»
* cannot be called Laws.
' And herein requiring of your Majefty three Pe-
' tilions, two for the Commons, and one for my-
' felf ; the firft for fuch Laws as they have made,
* being as yet without Life, and fo no Laws ; that
' it would pleafe your Majefty to grant your Royal
* Aflent unto them. Secondly, that your High-
,* ncfe would accept their Doings in good Part, that
'* the Imperfeflions of their Labours, by your Ac-
' ceptance may be fupplied ; for, as appeareth in
■ fundry Hiftories, the Perfonsoftnofe Princes and
* Subjects have long continued, which have well
* ufed thcmfclves one toward the other ; which,
* without neglefting of ray Duty, I cannot, in
' your Prefence, fo let flip : For, as it appeareth in
* divers Hiftories, the noble Altxandtr having prc-
' fenied unto him, by one of his poor Soldiers, the
' Head of one of his Enemies, he, not forgetting
* theServiceof his Soldier, although herein he had
* done but his Duty, gave unto him a Cup of Goldj
* which firft the Soldier rcfufed ; but after that A-
Uxander had commanded it to be filled with
Wine, and delivered him, he received it ; where-
by appeareih the noble and liberal Heart of the
faid Alexander.
* Alfo, Xenophon, writing of the Life o^Cyrus,
who being hberal of Gifts, having vanquiflied
Crajus,aad he marvelled at his Liberaliry,' faid, It
were better to keep it by him, than fo liberally to
; depart
48' 7 he Parliamentary HiStort.
(jjetnEBiabeth. ' depart from it; unto whom Cyrm anfwered,
156*. c That his Treafure was innumerable ; and ap-
' pointed Crcefui a Day, to fee the fame ; and
' thereupon tooli Order, ihat his Subjefls fliould,
' before that Time, bring in their Tteafure ; which
* being innumerable, and more than Cyrus by any
* other Means could have given; Crccfus much
' Wondered thereat ; Cyrus faid, Thou caufeft me
* to take of mv Subjeds, and retain the fame ; but
' what reed 1 to take, when they fo frankly will
' bring it unto me ; and fo as Occafion ferveth,
' ready continually to fupply my Want? therefore,
' how can I be but rich, having fuch Subjefts? but
, * if they by any Means were poor, tlien were I
' pooralfo.
* Which two worthy Examples of Alexander and
' Cyrus, yourMaJefty hath not forgotten lo purfue ;
* but wiih the like Zeal have hitherto always ufed
* us, and now efpecially at this prefent, by your
* moft gracious and free Pardon ; for the which,
' and all other, they by me their Mouth, do moft
' humbly thank you ; acknowledging fuch and fo
' much Love and Zeal of their Parts towards your
» Majefty, as ever any Subjects did bear towards
* their Prince and Governour. And in Token
» thereof, with one Aflcnt to offer to your Higb-
* nefs, one Subfidy and two Fifteenths^ moft hum-
* bly beleeching your MajcHy to accept it, not in
* Recompence of your Benefits, but alfo asaToken
* of their Duty, ss the poor Widow's Farthing was
< accepted, as appeareih in the Scripture.
' Thirdly, That it may alfo like your Majcfty,
* to accept my humble Thanks in alluwing, and
* admitting me, being unworthy of this Place, and
' bearing with my unworthy Service ; and lafl of
' all, my utjfitting Words, uplandifh and rude
' Speech; befeeching God to incline your Majefty'a
' Heart to Marriage, and that he will fo bleis and
' fend you good Succefe thereunto, that we may
* fee the Fruits and Children that may come there-
■ off fo that you and they may, profperoufly,
• and
I
Of
ENGLAND. 49
and as long Time, reign over us, as ever did any Queen Eiriabr
Kings or Princes; which God for lib Mercies 1561, ''*
' Sake grant unto us."
Then the f^^ieen called the Lord Keeper unto
her, commanding him, in her Name, to anfwer
the Speaker, as Ihc then declared unto him ; which
mlloweth :
Mr. Spfahfy
' nri H E Queen's Majefty hath heard how hum-
' J. bly and difcreetly you have declared the '''J'' ^""Ketp'
' Proceedings, and for Anfwer hath commanded me, '^ fZ^^'l '"
' Ihat I fliould utter three or four Things. The Name.
' firft, for her Royal Alient to the Ai5k made at this
' Parliament. Secoinily, How comfortably, and al-
' fo thankfully, her Majefty accepteth your Li-
' berality. And, thirdly, For the executing of the
' Laws.
• Here, my Lords and Mafters, although I can-
' not declare, or open it unto yon, as her Majefty
' liarh commanded me ; and therefore willingly
'would hold my Tongue, if I might; which, (or
' that I cannot be fo excufed, I fay unto you, as fo!-
' lowelh ; not doubting of her Highnefs's Clemen-
' cy in bearingwith me herein.
' Firft, Her Majefty confidereth how wifely yovi
' have done for the abolifhing of the Ramijh Power,
' ihecommon Enemy of this Realm 1 remembring
' your C*re for the Defence of the fame Realm,
'your Refpefts for the Maintenance ofVidlual*
' the Banifhmenc of Vagabonds, and Relief of the
' Poor, wiih otheis : And therefore allowethyour
' worthy Proceedings herein.
' Secondly, Your Liberality and Benevolence,
' wherein your wU'c Confiderations towards her
' Charges, is 6y her Majefty taken in thankful
' Part ; and, I take it lo be my Duty to put you
' in Remembrance, that although this Subfidy 13
' made, and lo be born by Subjeils, not daily ac-
' cuftoms'l thereunto, yet that at her firft En^
' trance (he had the like ; and that the Grant
V»L. IV. D • thereof
JO TbeTarltamentary Histoilt
tnEliMbeth, * thereof is more liberal than afore hath been accuf-
lifii, * tomed, and that it is of your Necefl;ty, yet it is
* to withftand a greater Neceflity, that for Fault
* thereof would elfe have enfued ; and therefore
* that Penny is well fpent that faveth a Groat ;
* which alfo hath been granted, neither with Per-
' fuafions. Threats, nor ftiarji Words, which afore
* this Time hath been acciiftomed, but by one ge-
* neralConfentof youall ; wherein appeareth your
* good Wills, and benevolent Minds, you bear to
* her Majefty, which Zeal (he moft kindly ac-
' cepteth ; and, as(hehath Caufe, than keth you.
* Again, by her MajeHy's Command, (he, re-
* membring by whom, why, and to whom this was
* granted, dotli thank as freely as you have granted,
* the moft Part whereof hath been accepted ; and
* left thofe that have fo freely offered fliould not
* be fo ready toward the gathering, thinkeihit much
* better to lofe the Sum granted, than to lofc yout'
* benevolent Minds.
' Thirdly, To the Execution of Laws, I have
* little to fay, although the whole Subftance confift-
* eth therein ; becaule I did, in the Beginning of
* this Parliament, declare my Opinion in that Mat-
* ter ; and therefore, as now you liave, to your
* Charges, taken Pains in making good Laws, fo
' put to your Helps, to fee thefe and all others ex-
* ecuted ; for as it is infallible, that a Thing done
' Unconftrained, is much better than when they be
* conftrained thereunto ; even fo her Majefty wil-
* leth you to look well, without more Words, to
* the Execuiicn, left her Grace Ihould be driven to
' do, as (he doth in htr Ecclellaftical Laws, make
* CommifHons to inquire, whether they be done or
* no; whereby (he fliall know thofe Jufticesand
' Officers, who have done their Duty, and are to be
* nfed in Service of Juitice, whereof her Majefty
' defireth to have many ; and again fhe fhal! under-
' ftand who are to be barred from the like Rooms,
* and the penal Staiuies to be on them executed,
* after this gentle Warning : Which Inquiry, I
* know, \i liki; to fall on me, as well as another.
• How-
0/ E N G L A N D. ji
' Howbeit, if Juftice be noi execuied, I ftall faeouMnEii^bcth
* glad to fee this Order taken. Notwithftanding, jje"
' her Majefty hopell] that this her Admonition fhall
' not need, for that you fee'Laws without Execu-
' tion, be as a Torch unlighted, or Body without a
'Soul: Therefore, look well tQ the Exccuring.
' Here endeth the three Things, which her Mjjc-
' fty commanded me to fay unto you.
' Befides this, her Majeily hath to anfwer your
' Petitions. And as to the firft, in which you defile
' her Royal Aflent to fuch Matters as you have
* agreed upon ; to thai flic faith, How at this pre-
' feni (he is come for that Purpofe.
' And, for your other Petitions, to accept in good
' Part, as well your Service as the Travails and
' Doings of the Nether Houfe, this Parliament :
' To that fhe anfwereih, how that (he doth not
' only accept them in good Part, but ahb ihanketh
' both you and them for the fime.
' And touching your Requeft, before this, made
' unto her, for her Marriage and Succeflion ; be-
' aufe it is of fuch Importance, whereby I doubted
' my own opening thereof, I thi^fore defired her
' Majefty, that her Meaning might be written,
' which fhe hath donei and delivered to me, to be
' rnd, as foHoweth :
" OInce there can be no dutr Debt than Princes
" ]j Words, which I would obferve, therefore
" 1 anfwer to ihe fame. Thus it is ; The two
" Petitions, which you made unto me. do contain
" two Things, mv Mirriage, and Succeflion after
" me. For the l-irft, l( I had let flip too much
" Time, or if my Strength had been decayed, you
" might the better have fpoke therein ; or if any
" think I never meant to try thai Life, they bede-
"ceivcd 1 but if I may hereafter bend my Mind
"thereunto, the rather fur fulfilling your Requeft,
" I (hall be therewith very well conient.
** For the Second ; The Greatnefs thereof mak-
" eth me to fay and pray, that I may linger htre In
" this Vale of Milery, for yout Comfort i wherein
D 2 *' I have
51 The ^Parliamentary Histort
QatenMiibtth." 1 have Wiincfs of my Sturjy and Travail, fut
1561. " your Surety : And I cannot, wiili Nunc dimiltis,
" end my Life ; wJihoiit 1 fee fome Foundation of
" your Surely after my Gravc-Sione."
Aficr which, hfr Majcfty gave the Royal A£ent
proroeucJ. 'O ihiriy - One publick and Idventeen private Aifls.
And then the Lord Keeper prorogued this Parliament
10 the :d Day of O^slfrnexi enfuirg.
Nothing material happened to the Slate in this
Interval ; we fhall pafs on lo the Time limited by
the hft Prorogation. And, on the 2d of Oitober^
the fatnc Year, the Parliament being again met, the
Li -rd Treafurer informed the Members of both
Houfes, ' That for fundry CaufesandConfiderations,
• hut. particularly, by reafon the Plague [a) was then
' raging in the C\\\t^oi London zndlVeJimmJier, and
," ' the Suburbs of the fame, her Majefty had thought
' ' good to prorogue this Parliament, ftill farther, to
ifj ' the 5tEi Day of OSiober, in the next Year.'
The Writ of Prorogation is inferied, at length, in
\ the Jo-irnah ; d^ed at the Caftle of Wh'lfor, Oc-
i labsr 2d, in the 5W1 Year of her Reign. This pef-
tilenii;d "Diftemper was brought into England, at
that Time, by the Soldiers that had ferved in the
GarrifonatA'i^iai'w, then befieged and taken by
ihe Fnnib. It fpread to fuch a Degree in Lo/irlari,
that there were carried out from that Ciiy alone,
which then confided of izi Paiiihes, 21,530
dead Bodies. Siowe writes, tfiat there was no
Mickaelmafi Term kept, and tiint the City was vifi-
led with a threefold 'Plague this Year, Peftilence, Scar-
city of Money, and a g'ejt Dearth of Victuals (b).
The War had now been, alfo, proclaimed on
both Sides, but it did not continue long ; for the
next Year a Peace was concluded between the two
contending Powers. But tho' the Parliament met
again, atihe Time appointed, it wap again prorogued
from thejih of Oiisbct; to the 30th Day oi'^pnl
next ■
{a')MaxlK;fnpsfr }nfiai,nimAir!tpiJ>if^i, ptrCimlatei London
^ «■ Wefthimfltr, S3 Suku>bw, adfraf^s gy>.ffe<'tt. Joutn. Procer.
(t) Sinii'i t'brofl. p, ij6. HtUiigpind, &c.
O/^ E N G L A N D. 53
next following ; without any Reafons given for it Queen Elftabcth
ia the Writ. And, from the laft named Day, anor 1566.
ther Writ ftill prorogued this Parliament to the 4 th
of 0£t9ber next enfuing. Nor was it then lufFercd
tofit, but was once more prorogued to the 7th Day
^Fibruary ; from which Time this Parliament
was ftill prorogued to the 30th Day of September^
which was then in the eighth Year of this Reign. ^^^^ ^t^nu 8.
Thefe frequent Prorogations, which are fo far *^^^*
from being in Diiad Diem, that they are almoft in ^^^^ Parliament
Anno ad Annum^ are what we have not yet met meet after many
with in theCourfe of this Hiftory. It feems as if Prorogauont.
the Queen and her Miniftry were too well pleafed
with the former Proceeding? of this Parliament to
fufter a Diflblution of it, tho' they had no Occalion
for its Sitting for fo many Years together. How-
cveri at the laft appointed Time,* tliey now met to
do Bufinefs ; but an Accident had happened to the
Houie of Commons, which greatly difconcerted
their Proceeding?, 'thmas Williams^ .Efq; their
Speaker, was dead ; and, as they could not a^ with-
out one, they were at a Lofs what to do in a Qtfe ^^*^j^, J"
that was hitherto unprecedented. A long Entry b on^the SS^hof
made in the Journals of the Houfe of Lords, relating tbcif %cakir«
to this ASair ; whereby it appears that the Com-
mons, after much Deliberation, agreed upon this ;
That a Committee fhould be appointed to wait upon
the Lord Keeper and the Lords of the other Houfe,
to know their Opinion of the Matter. This Com-
ioittee confifted of Sir Edward Rogers^ Comptroller
of the Houfliold ; Six Francis KnolleSj Vice-Cham-
beilain 5 Sir IfilHam Cecily Chief Secretary ; Sir
Jbhbrofe Cave^ Chancellor of the Duchy of Lantaftir ;
four of the Chief Members of their Houfe \ and
twenty more Perfons joined with them in Com-
miffion. Thefe were to repair to the Lords,
to have their Aid and Affiftance, both for Intimation
of the Affair to her Majefly, and to know her good
Pleafuie in it. The Lords, after fome Confultati-
on, agreed. That the Lord Keeper, the Lord
Treafurer of England^ the Du^'.e of Norfolk and the
D 3 Marqueis
54 The 'Parliamentary Histort.
QuMnEliwtcth. Marqoeis of A^orfidW^Wn, ftiould be appointed to
1566- go along with the four Principals of the other Houfe,
being all of the Privy Council, to intimate the Mat-
ter to her Mjjerty, in the Name of both AfTemblies,
and lo know her Pkalure therein,
The Refult of ihis was, that, on the fecond Day
of their Meclmg, the firft having been Ipent in the
IniroJudtion pf fome young Lords, by the Q^ieen's
Writs, aCommifTion was fliewed by the Lorj Keep-
er, directed to himfelf, under ihc broad Seal, and was
read in the Houfe; importing, That the Queen
^' amended the faid Keeper to call before him all
;;)e Members cf the Other Houfe, and to acquaint
ihem. th^it her Majefty's Pieafure was that they
Lbiuid iefori to [heir ulual Place and there to chuie
a new Speaker, after their accuftotned Manner.
Which done, three or four of that Houfe, in the
J^ame of tht rert, were to inform the Qvieen of their
Ciioice, who then was to appoint a Day when flie
woula have their new Speaker prefented to her for
her Appr<ibaCion. Dated at fVeJlmiti/^er, O£fober
ift, in the eighth Year of her Reign. But no more
Notice is taken of this Matter in the Jourmih of
the Houfe of Jjordg.
Bat, in thofe of the Commons the Matter is car-
ried farther. We are there told, that the Members
of chat Houfe, by vertueof the Queen's Writ, went
upon the tlection of a new Speaker. That Sir Ed-
ward Rsgfrs, Knight, Comptroller of the Houflipld,
Richsri Onnow made a Moiion, that whereas Richard Onfcw, Efq;
Eiq; eieaed ' her Majcffy's Solicitor General, was a Member of
Sptaktr. that Houfe, and yet attended ihe Houfe of Lords,
that they would have him reflored to them to join
in the Elcflion of a Speaker, On which. Notice
being fenC to the Lords, the faid Riihaid Onflow-,
Efq, was fent down lo them ; who endeavoured to
lhew,by his Writof Attendance, and other Argu-
ments, that he could not ferve in both Capacities ;
be was, nevtrihelefs, adjudged to be a Member of
that Home. Mr. Comptroller [hen named the faid
Mr. On^DZii as their Speaker ; who, again, endea-
ycuring to evade itj ur^edj not only his own Ina-
bilities,
0/ E N G L A N D. js
bililies, but the Oath be had taken to her Mijefly ; Queen EiJiaUth.
and required them to proceed to a hlw Election. '5**-
On this, the Hou/e divided, and i!ie Numbers for
having him Speaker were eighty-lwo, againft it
fevcnty : So he was placed in ihe Chair. The
next Day, the Queen bwlng come to the Hoofe of
Lords, and feated on the Throne, the Commons
new Speaker was introdured between Sir Edward
^gfrs. Comptroller of the Houfhold, and Sir Fraa-
m KnolUs, Vice-ChamSerlain, Who, having made
Ihe ufual Reveiences at the fiarj fpoke as follows ;
' TF it pleafe your Royal Majefty, raoft virtuous HiiSpeechtortie
* X and moft excellent Ptincefs^ at the humble Qu^™ to be eji-
* Suit of the Knights, Citizeqsand Bui^elTesofyour JJ'^'^^^'"™ •*»'
' Nether Houfe of Parliament, nowafiemWed, was
' fignified trom your Majefty, by the Mouth of the
' Lord Keeper, by force of your Highnefs's Letters
' of Commiflion, yourPleafureand Grant of free
' Eleflion to the Knights Citizens and BurgelTcS,
' to chufe a fit and 'earned Man, to be their Speak-
* er, inftead of Thamai If^Ulams, Elijj their late
' Speaker, whom it h th pleaTed God to call to his
' Mercy. For which they have commanded me,
' in their Names, to render unto your Majefty moft
' humble Thanks ; and have commanded and
' forced me, to my great Grief, to fignify to your
' Majefty, how accordingly they have proceeded to
* an Eleftion, and cbofen and ailigned me (as I may
' fay^ being moft unworthy to fpeak in this Place,
' for this Parliament j and for that I would not be
' obftinale, 1 am forced lo wound myfclf with their
' Sword, which Wound yet being green and new,
' your Majefty being the perfeft Phyfician, may
' cure in difallowing that which they have allow-
' ed ; for that, without your Confent it is nothing.
* And although I being very loth to trouble your
' Highnefe, have made Suit and ufed all Ways and
' Means to avoid it, yet could I find no Remedy ;
' and therefore am driveii to feek Remedy at your
' Hands -, for, though I have the Experience of
' their Uprightnefs, Wifdon\ and Knov/ledge,
* whicl^
j6 The Parliamentary History.
QuEsn Eiiiibcth- ' which chofe me j who, if they would have found
1566. ' anyFauh in me, I wouldlightly have believed them;
' fiiotvpithitandrng that we arc for the mod Part
, ♦ given to think too much of ourfelvcs) but In this
' Day, that they feem to enable me to this Calling,
i' whereof I know myfeif unable, I cannot credit
' them no more than the limple Patient, grievoufly
' tormented with Sicknefs, will believe the Phyfici-
• an, nay the whole College of them, if they fay
L ' he haih no Grief, Pain or Sicknefs. I therefore
,■ • do not attempt this releaiing of me for any Eafe
I * of myfeif, but would be glad to ferve your Maje-
' fty, to the uuermoft of my Power, in the Office
,- " * of Sollicitorfhip, whereunto I am appointed, and
y * not in thia, being unfit for the fame ; and that
' * for divers Caufes. For, firft, I confider, I have to
* deal with many welt learned, the Flower and
' Choice of the Realm, whole deep Underftanding
' my Wit cannot attain to reach unto. No, if
' ' they for great Carefiilnefs would often inculcate it
* into my dull Head, to lignify the fame unto your
* Highnels, yet my Memory is fo ilippcry by Na-
' ture and Sickneis, that I fhoulJ likely lole it by
* the Way ; yet, if perhaps I kept Part thereof,
' ' I have no other Knowledge tohelp myfeif withai,
k ' butalitJe in thcLaw, farinferiortodivers in this
» • Houle; and fo fliould want Learning and Utter-
I' ance to declare their Meanings, as it requireth ;
* efpecially when I confider your Royal Majefty,
( ' 3 Princefs endowed with fo many Virtues, Leatn-
I ' ing andfiov.'irgEloquence, it will ahafh and a-
\ ' iionifli me ; and therefore finding ihefelnfirmi-
' ties, and other in me, I think myfeif moftunwor-
^ thy of this Place. I trull therefore only in your
' Highnefs, that you will diiallow this tleflion ;
' and the rather, for that by the true Intent of your
* faid Letters, it may not be gathered that they
• ' Ihould eleil any of your Majefty's Officers i
' for although the Words be 10 have their free E-
* leiftion, yet the Law may reltrain them in fome
^ Meafure. As for Example, we find in the Law,
S [ti9_t if it would pleafe your Majefty, to grant
' licence
0/ E N G L A N D. j;
- Licence to 3 Dean and Chapter, to purchafe tOQuctnEiinbcth.
* them and their SucceiJbrs, a hundred Pound year- 'S*'''
* ly ; which Words be generally: Yet ifthcPur-
' chafed Lands be holden in Capiti, this Grant is
' void. And again, if you grant the Fines and A-
' merciaments of all your Tenanis to one, who
* after chancelh to be Sheriff of a Shire, yet being a
' Sheriff he cannot have them. So this fme feem-
* eth) if it pleafe your Highnefs ferveth my Cafe.
' Another Caufe is for Want of Subftance to main-
* tain this my Countenance; but yet your Maje-
' fty's Goodnefs in thisPointftoppeth my Mouth,
* fbr that 1 have none other Living, but in Manner
' by you. So for all ihefe Confiderations, and di-
< vers others, as it fhall pleafe your Majefty to con-
* fider, I humbly defire your Highneis to difallow
', this Eledtion, commanding them to repair again
^ whether, and lo chufe another more fit to feive
' the fame."
Then the Queen called the Lord Keeper, declar-
i^ her Opinion inanfwering him, who returning
to his Piace, faid as followeth :
Mr. Onslow,
' rri H E Queen's Majefty hath heard and wel! The lord K«p-
' X underftood this difabling yourfelf to this" 'mm™ hit
' Oflice ; and doih well perceive your earned Suit^'*"*"'
' lobe difcharged of the fame ; and for Anfwer,
' hath commanded me to lay. That (be doiibteth
*• not, but you very well underftand, that when one
' kchofcn to ferve the Commonwealth, it is not in
' him which is called, who hath appointed him
■' thereunto. Alfo, there is an old Similitude, that
!* like as it appenaineth to the Head to difpofe every
^* inferior Member in his Place, fo it pertaineth to
^ the Queen's Majefty, being the Head, to appoint
I* every one in the Commonwealth. This being
'* Truth, and her Majefty withal remcmbrin^ your
* Fidelity and long Experience in Parliament Mat-
*iera, and again bting cliolen by fo learned and
'■rxpcnMEnjChinkethchereforeyoaiFimefsneedeih
'not
Qjieen Elizabeth.
Mr. Oo(Iow*s
J 8 The Tarliavtentary History
not to be difputed here, and therefore they giving
-unto you fuch Faith and Credit, according to an an-
tient Cuftom, (be cannot but do the like ; and a|fo
you in difabling yourfelf have abled yourfelf, and
therefore (he doih allow and approve this their E-
ledion, nothing doubtirig her Opinion in ypur
Ability to ferve this Turn.*
Mr. Ons low's Anfwer.
SEeing that it hath pleafed your Majefty torati«
fy this Eleftion, I, to the uttermoft of my
Power, {hall ferve your Highneis and this Com*
monweakh ; but firft my humble Suit is. That it
would pleafe your Majefty, to accept my Good-
Will ; and, the better to difcharge my Duty to-
wards them whicli have chofen me, that in great
Matters lent from them, I may have Acce&to
your M^yefty at Times convenient, as the Weight
fhall require. Secondly, If by Weaknefs I (hall
miftake the Effeft and Meaning of the Matters
committed to me, by the Knights, Citizens and
Burgeflb, and thereby, againft my Will, mifreport
them, that then thereby this Commonwealth
may take no Detriment ; but that I may confer
again with ihem, the better to under ftand their
Meaning, and fo with more Wbrds to utter the
fame unto you : And, I fhall pray, as 1 am
bound, to God, for your long and profperous
Reign over us.*
Then her Majefty called the Lord Keeper, and
commanded him to anfwer himt which he did as
foUoweth :
ne Lord Keep- *
cr*s Reply. <
Mr, Speaker^
TH E Queen's Majefty hath heard your hum-r
ble Petitions, and Requeft made unto her,
the Effeft whereof (he gathereth to ftand in two
Points : Firft, For Accefs to her Perfon j aiid|
fecondly. For good Interpretation of your Mean-
ing; and alfo larger Declarations thereof, if nec4
be. For the former, her Highn^fs (^as her noblq
0/ E N G L A N D. fg ,
Progenicorahave done) rs well contented, that inQ^t^xVinktl^
convenient Time, and for convenient Caufes, in '^^'
convenient Place, and without Importunity, (for
that thcfe Parts now touched, have not been abre
this Time fo well handled, as the now trufteth it
■ (hall be) which conlidered, as free Acccfs flie
' granteth you, as any other hath had. For the
' &cond point, becaufe no Man at all Tim^s may
■ do lb well, but fometimes Things may be uttered,
which may be mif-fpoken ; for which Caufe, in
that Time alfo you fliall have her ititreatable ; but
file thinketh your Circumrpe^ion to be fuch as
Ihc ihall not therein need.'
fc * Now a Word or two to remember you here
■ * prelent of both the Houfes ; firlt. This it is that I
^^ * would advife you in this prcfent Proceeding, to
^B* prefer the moll weighty Matters iirft, and noc
^P trouble youtfelves with fmall Matter% Uid qf no
Hp Weight i and therein alfo, that all be done to ua-
B* derftand the Truth, and to avoid all fupeifluous
■ Matters, and lofing or driving away of Time.
* Secondly, It Is profitable that you, my Lords, and
• all Others that be here, confiJer that long Time
frcquire'.h grent Expences, and therefore wilh you
to make Expedition, theratiicrtoavuid ihefame.
And yet not meaning fugh Expedition, that any
Xhing needful to be done, ihouia be lightly paiied
• over, and not fubftantlally done, and feen unto ;
* but only I mean that you fhould fettle yuurfelvL-f
* wfa(d^jr to mighty Matters, and thofe which be
« aeceuary, and to fpare fuperfluous Things, and
■ which needed not. And this is the Sum I have
• to &y.'
The PuWiflier of D' Ewts"*- Journals charges tlie
Cud Rithard OnJIow, Efq; wltli omitting, in his O-
lacion to the Quceu, the acculhsmed Claim for Li-
berty of Speech and Freedom from Arrefts for the
Cofumons and their Followers. He feems to atone
for it, indeed, by faying. That, perhaps, the Speak-
er dicught ihofe Rights of the Houfe were fo evident
and u^iqucftionable, that Cey needed no farther
Coofttn^tion.^ But this tttitar appeafi not to have
^ coolidetcd, -
60 The FaHiamintttry tti stOr V
^eeaClizitKth. coiifii^cred. That this was the fecond Seflion of a
•i*6> parliament ; that Mr. Solicitor Onfiinu was eleiicii
Speaker upon a Vacancy occaiioned by (he Death
of ^hoiTras H'iUiami, Efq; And that, as the two
Points of Liberty of Speech and Freedom from Ar-
rcfts had been, before, claimed by his Predeceffor in
that C'fficc, and allowed by the Queen in the firft
Seflion ; nothing feemcd, now, neceflary for him
to alk but fuch Ckims as were I'erfona) ; which, ic
appears from his Speech, he did not negk^. And
rtiis Practice feenis to have been confirmed by fub-
fcquent Ufage in like Cafes.
Nothing material happened, in the Houfe of
Lords, till the 22d of Uiffoi?'-, when a Committee
of Lords were appointed, by that Houfe, to wait
upon the Queen, in the Aficrnoon, to know hef
Majefty's Pleafure. There is no farther Entry
made of ihU Matter for that Day ; but, three Days
after, tlie Lord Treafurcr acquainted the Houfe,
That the Queen, confiiiering his hoary Hairs and
old Age, accompanied with heavy Griefs ; and, un-
derflanding the Lord Keeper's flow Amendment,
had minded to fupply both their Defe£h, by ap-
pointing Sir Robeit Callyn, Knight, Lord Chief Juf-
ticeof the Common Pleas, to execute the Office of
the faid L^rd Keeper, in Paihament. And her
Majefty's Letters Patents, for the faid Appointment,
were read accordingly. We prefumo this was the
Bufinefs for which the aforcfaid Committee waited
oa the Queen. The Lord Treafurer had adjourn-
ed the Houfe, from Day to Day, fince the 5th of
Oeieher, by the Queen's Command t becaufe, as it is
entered, the Lord Keeper was fallen ill of the
Gout (tj, and could not attend his Duty in the
Houfe. It fcems moft probable, that this was the
Reafon ; iho' the Pubtifher of D^E-wes's journals
hints, That it was on the two great Bufineffes of the
Qiieen's Marriage and Succeffion, that thisCommil-
mittee was appointed to wait upon her Majefty.
But no Entry is made, in either Jeuritals, to fup-
port this Conjedhire, at that Time,
Oifobtr
(l) PcJ^srtl Mi'L, IJiiru'Bil. Jgorn, Pwcw.
i 0/ E N G L A N D. 6i
I 0£7(;A^rthe26tIi, aBill was read the firll Time, qu„n
■ by the Lords, declaring the Manner of making and 3
I confecrjting Archbifhops and Eirtiopsof thislfealm,
B to be good, l.iwfu! and perfect- The Tame Day it is
H -eutered, that the Lords, after deliberate Con fultation,
W and Advice taken, how to provide in ihe great
Matter of Succeffion and Marriage, which had been
in:imated to them from the Houie of Commons,
did come to ihis Refoluiion, 10 fend Serjeant Carus
and Mr, Attsriiiy down to them to notify, That
there would be a Member of their Houfe chofcn
and fent lo tbem, to take their Opinion in ibis
Affair.
I On the 30th, another Committee of Lords was
appointed for a Conference with a felei5l Number of
th; Lower Houfe, touching a Petition to i>e made
to the Queen's Majefty, both for the Succeffion
aod the Marriage. This Committee confifted of a c
thcfe Lords following i the Archbifhop of ^«^'^. '*'^t^""'^^?|;
ijiie Lord Treafurer, the Duke of Norfolk, the Mar- ^^tht c^«n »*
1^13 of t^rlhamptoii ; the EaiU of No'thumberland, Ikjuc hci Mini-
'^e/lmarilaitd, Skrewibury, Worcefler, SuJJex, Hun- *E=-
^tingdattf Warwick, Bedhrd, Pembrah, and Lei-
ufter i ±e Vifcounts Montague and Byndon ; the
"Bifhops of London, Durham, IVincheJler, IVoraf'
ter^ Lincoln, Rache/ier, Caventry and Litchfield \
the Lord Admiral and the Lord Chamberlain ; the
Lords Morley, Cobham, Gray, IVentworth, Wind-
fir^ Rich, Sheffield, Paget, North, Hajlings of
t-aaghbomugh, and the Lord Lhinjdon.
The Committee of the Commons, for manag-
ing this Conference, is alfo enued in the Lords
Journah, whofe Names were,
Svr Ziv). Rugers^ Knt. Sir "thomai Wroth, Knt.
Sr Francis Knolles, Knt. Mailer of the Rolls.
Sir William Cecil, Knt. Sir Nicholas Thngmortii/i.
Sir Ambrufi Cave, Knt. Sir Morris Berkley.
Sir William Peire, Knt. Sir Peter Carew.
Sir Ralph Sadler, Knt. Sir John Chichepr.
■Sit Wall. Mildmay. Knt. Sir Thomas Gargrave.
all of her Majelly's Sk Henry Nevile.
Privy Council. Sir Thomas Arnold.
Sir
6i The Parliamentary History
(tew. EiiHbtih. Sir i/aro' ^P'y-
Mr Recorder of Lstidtii.
Jje*. Sir John Fsllard.
Mr Francis Fleetwood.
Sir Jihn Perrot.
Mr Montgomery.
Sir Gabriel Carevj.
Mr Thomas Fleetwood.
Sir Thomas Girrard.
Mr Bartue.
Sir ff'i/liam Chejler.
Mr Ambrey.
Sir Jehn If'hiu.
Sir John St leger.
Mr Haddon.
Mr Edward Uighten.
Sir John CenftabU.
Sir Hqfiings.
Mr toung.
Mr Charles Howard.
Sir ?*^« Msore.
Mr Alfori.
Sir 7fl^ Sauthwarh.
Mr Hnrry KnoUes, fen.
Sir 7flA» r*/n«^.
Mr Hafel.
Sir yuis Turpint.
Mr Haivtrey.
Sir Henry Gates.
Mr Join Hajiifigs.
Sir iJjifr/ Wingfield.
Mr AJhleyol the Jewef-
Sir Henry Cheney.
Houfe.
Sir AriLChapman, Knts.
Mr Cooley.
Mr SecA/ar^.
Mr mitiam Moore.
Mr Sf//.
Mr Hilliar.
Mr ^Mj«ySB.
Mr Knight Marflial.
Mr DaJwff.
Mr Robert Manners.
Mr Cofl;>.
Mr Barham.
Mr KingfiniU.
Mr Francis Newdigatt.
Mr AloBneitx.
Mr Warnecombe.
Mr jt/ar^.
Mr Francis Broivn.
Mr />rfl«.
Mr Da«^i.
Mr Northten.
Mr ;i^r*frj.
Mr Wray.
Mr iJflifrt Bowles.
Mr fij^i^j-;.
Mr Wiljin.
The yi!ur/7fl/i only tel
us, that on the 5th Day-
of November the fame Committee of Lords, and
tliiriy of the Houfe of Commons, were appointed
lo wait upon her Mijefty, by lierown Ipecia! Com-
mand. But no Account
is given in thele Records,
of what wjs done at the Conference, or what 1
Aniwer her Majefly gave
to this Committee of Par-
liament. Hillory, however, is not ib (iient about
it ; Mr Csmbden informs
US id), that the Queen of
Scots was iuft then delivered of a Son, and that 1
Queen Elizabeth fecretly
envied her Rival the Ho-
nour
(i) CaM"> in K^ri, p. 3f9
1
r
I 0/ E N G L A N D. 63
Hliourof being a Mother before tier. Yet did flie QaeenEiiiibetb.
■"liiakc no Hafte to follow her Example ; and this de- "s66.
r termined the Englifh Parliament to folicit Elizabeth
ftrong!)' about Marriage, or to letiJe the Succeflion,
The Piipl/is, on one hand, were big wiih Hopes
to have it fettled in the Queen of Scsts, and her If-
fue; whilft the Pmteflants, on the other, were
much divided about a Succeflbr, fome for one Per-
fon, fome for another ; every one foreboding fad
and troublefome Times, (hould the Queen dye be-
fore 'his important Point was eftablifhed,
The PerfonE who pretended to have a Title to
the Crown, and had their feveral Abettors, be/ides
I the Queen of Sif«i, were theCountefs of Lenex, a
■, l)aughter of Margaret oF England, by Archiiald
W Dauglafi, Ear] of J^Tj^wj, her fecond Husband. Ca-
r therint Countefs of Hertford, the Daughter and
Coheir of Henry Grey, Marquis of Derfet, and
fratiiei his Wife, the eldeft Daughter and Coheir
of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suff'olt, by Marj
ihe French Qiiren, yoiing;eft Daughter to Henry the
Seventh. Thefe feveral Claims muft make the Na-
tion very uneafy at that Time ; fince, without
fettling the Succefhon, the fingle Life of the Queen,
only,ftop'd the Door againft manyTroubles which
might enfue by her Death. For this Reafon the
Lords now thought proper lo join with the Com-*
mons in an Addrefs to her Majefty. What the De-
bates at the Conference were, does not appear in
either Journal ; but Cambden affures us, that the
Heats and Clamours were fo great, in the Debates
of both Houfes, ahout this Affair, that they roundly
taxed the Q_iecn with a Difregard to her Country
and Pofteriiy. The People were no lefs warm, on
iheOccafion, without Doors j fome defamed C«<7
the Secietary, with (landerous Libels, calling him
a pernicious Counfellur ; whilft others curied the
Queen's Phyfician, Dr Haic, as having dilLaded
the Queen from marryiny, on Account, and in
treience of fome fupetnatural Impediment or De- ^>
fc£t in her.
64 77}e 'Parliamentary Historv
^fett^^tetli. In the Houfc of Lord?, the Peers that Tpoke ihs
''*^ moft in this Debate were, the Earls of Pembrde
and Leicifter ; the Duke of Nii'foik alfo, but more
cautioufly, joined the others Opirion, that the
Qi-ieen ought to be obliged to lake a Htisband ; or
th^t a Succellbr fhouM be declared by Aft of Par-
liament, even againit her Will. But they were
forced to make Submi/Tion for this, and had their
Pardon. However, the whole Houfe came to a
Refolution, 10 draw up an Addtefs 10 her Majefty,
lo be deliver'd by their Speaker, the Lord Keeper
Bacon; which Addreis, or Petition, at large, is
preferved by Cambden, with the Queen's Anfwer
to It; and though prolix enough, and full offtrange
Argumems, yet muft they both find Places in thefe
Enquiries.
The Petilion ef ihe hardi Spiritual and Temporal, to
her Majefty t upn the two great Matters of Mar-
riage and Succf£ion, deliver'd by the Lord Keeper
in Parliament, Nov. 10, 1566.
An Addtefs from' TV/T*^^'^ humbly befcecheth your excellent
the Lordion that XVX Majefty, y Our fill thful, loving and obedi-
Siihjeft, ent Subjeifts, all your Lords both Spiritual and
Temporal, aflemblcdin Parliament in your Upper
Houfe ; to be fo ■much tlieir good LaJy and Sove-
reign, as according !o your accuftomd Benignity,
to grant a gracious and favourable Hearing to their
Petitions and Suits, which with all Humblenefs and
Obedience, they are come hither to prefenc to your
Majefty by my Moulh, in Matters very nearly and
dearly touching your moft Royal Perfon, the Im-
perial Crown of this your Re;Um, and univerfal
Weal of the fame ; which Suits, for that they tend
to the Surety and Prefervation of thefe three Things,
your Perfon, Crown, and Realm, the deareft
Jewel tliai my Lords have m the Earth ; ihcreforfc ■
they think ihemfclvep, for divers Reipetts, grearty-";
bound to make thefe Petitions ; as firft by their Duty J
to God, then by their Allegiance lo your Highnefss^
and laftiy by the Faith rbey ought to bear to iheir :
natural Country, And like as, moft gracious So-
vereign,"
-- 0/ E N G L A N D. 6^
Vercign, by thele Bonds they (hould have been bound fl?"nEtm
to make the like Petition, upon like Occalion, to '***•
any Ctioce th;it it flioulci have ple.ifed God to have
sppoirMcd lo reign over ihem ; (o they ihink ihem-
WpMdoubly bound to ineice the lame to your Ma-
jefty, 'Coafidering that beiides the Bond belbremen-
i!Oi)'d, they lUiid alio bound lb to do, by the great
and manifold Henehcs ihcy have and do receive daily
al your Highoels's Hands ; which, (hortly to fpeakj
Ift-a* great as llieFruiisof Peace, common Quiet
aod Ju^ice c^n give i and this wiih gre.it Care and
Charge to yourlelf. And thus my Lords diverlly
^ln(),.as your Majelly hath heard, are now to
opea to your Highnels tlieir humble Petitions and
SuiiSj confifting in livo Points chiefly ; which not
ftindrily, or ihe one without the other, but both
jointly they delkc your Highnefs to aflent to i The
former is, that it vi'ould plcife your Majefty to
difpofe yourfelf to marry, where it fliall pleale you,
with vhom it fliall pleafe you, and as Ibon as it
ftiall pleafe you. The fecond, that fome fuch Li-
mitation might be made, how the Imperial Ciown
of this Realm Ihould remain, if God call your
H^hnefs without Heir of your Body, ('which our
Lord defend) fo as thefc Lords and Nobles, and o-
ther your Subjects then living, might fufiicienlly
undemaiid to whom ihey Ihould owe their Alle-
giance and Duty, due to be done by Subjects ; and
that they mi§hr, by your Majefty's Licence, and
Mfiib your Favour, treat and confer together this
Parliament- time, for the welldoing of this. The'
former of thefe two, which is your Marriage, they
do in their Hearts moftcarneftly wilh and pray, as "
3 Thing that muft needs breed and bring great and
lingular Comfort to yourfelf, and unfpeakabie joy
I andGladnefs to all true Engll/b Heans. But'thtf
(econd f arrieth with it fuch Neceflity, that without!
it they cannot fee how the Safety of your Royal
I Perfom, the Prefervation of your Iinperi^il Crown
I ■.n.i o-^ni, fhall be, or can be rufficiently and ccr-
ks.iii^ provided for. Moit gracious and fovereign
I7, the lamentable and pitiful State and Condi'
(■Vot.4V. £ titiun
J
66 The TarliamiHtary History
Queen Eliiabeib. I'O") wherehi all your NoUes and Coimfellors of
1566. late were, when it plea fed God to lay his heavy
Hand upon yLHi, and the Amazediiers that moil
Mtn of UnderftanJing were by ihe Fruit of that
Sicknefs brought into, is one Catite of this their Pe-
tition ; the fecond, the Apinefs and Opportunity
fif the Time, by reafon of ihis Parliament, where-
by both fuch Advice, Conlideraiion and Confent,
asis requifitein To great and weighty aCaufe, may
be better heard and ufed, than at any other Time,
when no Parliament is. The third, tor that the
aflentingand performing of ihefe Petitions, cannot,
as they think, but breed great Terror to our Ene-
mies, and therefore muft of Necefiity king great
Surety to yourPerfon; and efpecially by Addition
of fuch Laws, as may be join'd with this Limitati-
on, lor a certain and fure obferving it, andpreferv-
(ngof your Majefty againft all Piaciices and Chan-
ces, The fourih Caufe, for that the like (as it is
fuppoled) hath been done by divers of your noble
Progenitors, both of old Time and of late Days ;
and alfo by other Princes your Neighbours, of the
grcateflElfale in £ari?/< ; and for that Experience
hatli taught, that Good hath come of it- The
fifth, for that it appeareih by Hiftoiies, how that in
Times paft, Perfons inheritable to Crowns being
Votaries and Religious, to avoid fuch Dangers as
might have bappen'd for Want of SucceHion to
Kingdoms, have left their Vows and Monafteries,
and taken themfelvea to Marriage j as dtijiiintia a
Nun, Heir to the Kingdom or' 5i«/)', married after
fifty Years of Age, to i/eni^ VI. Emperor of that
Name, and had Iflue Fredirkh II. And lifcewife Pe-
tiro^ Arragim, being a Monk, married, tile better
to eftablifband pacify that Kingdom. A^ain, An-
tcninui Pius is as much commended, for that not
two Days btfore his Death, lie (ud to his Council,
iirts anitno morior, guBniom fillum raUi rdinquo.
Pyrrk)iS is of all godly Men detefted, for laying he
would leave his Realm to him that had the fharpeft
Sword. What but Want of a Succeflbr known,
made an End of fo great an Empire as Altxandtr
ih«
0/ E N G L A N D. (,j
l!ie Great did leave at his Death ? Thefixth CaufeQueo
is, for ihat my Lords do judge, the performing of
iliiswill breed fuch an univerfal Gladnels in the
Hfans of all your true and loving Sulijeds, that
likely and probably you fliall find them in ali Com-
mandments ready and glad to adventure thQir Goods,
Linds and Lives in your Service, according to
ibtir bounden Duties ; which of Necefliiy mull
^Icd great Surety to your Majefty. The fevenih
Caufe, becaufe the not doing of this, fif God fliould
Call your Highnefs witiioul Heir of your B,xiy,
which God grant never be fcen, if it be his Will)
and yci your Majefty tight well knoweth, that
frinces and their bftspring, be they never fo great,
never fo ftrong, never fo like to live, be yet mor-
nl, and fubjeit every Day, yea zsax'j Hour, to
God's Call ; my Lords think, this happening, and
no Limitation made, cannot, by their Judgments,
tut be the Occafion of very evident and greatDan-
ger and Peril to all Eilates and Sorts of Men of
this Realm, by theFadtions, Seditions, and intel-
tine War, that will grow, for Want of Under-
ftanding to whom they (hould yield Allegiance and
Duty ; whereby much innocent Blood is moft like
to be fhed, and many of thofe to lofe their Lives,
thai now would jiladlybeftow them for your Sake,
in your Majefty's Service, The eighth, for that
the not performing of this, the other happening,
doth leave the Realm without Government, which
\i the greitelt Danger that can happen to any King-
dom i for every Prince is Anima Legis, and fo re-
puted in Law, and iherelore upon the Death of
Princes the Law dies; all the Offices of Jullice,
whereby the Laws are to be executed, do ceafe ;
ill Writs and Commandments to call Parties to the
Exfcmion of Juftice^ do hang in Sulpenfe ; all
[ Commiffions for the Peace, and for the PuniflimenC
of Offenders, do determine and lofe their Force ;
I irtttrdjy it followeth confequcntly, that Strength
muft rule, and neither Law nor Reafon,-
uch a Vacation and inter Reign ; wherein
Inccriainty of SuccelTion is like to laft fo
E a long^
68 The Tayliameittary H i s T o Pv t
QpeenEliiabeth. '""Si ^^ ■' " to be feared (if God's Mercy be not
ijSB. the areatfr) that thereby we may bccooie a Prey to
Strangers, (which our Lord defend) or at leaft !ofe
the great Honour and Eftimation that long time
hath periained to us. And like as, moft gracious
Sovereign, u)y Lords have been moved for the
worldly Rei"pe£t aforefaid, to make their humble
Petitions lo your Majefty ; fo by ihe Examples,
Counl'el*, yea and Commandmentsi thai they have
heard out of the facred Scriplures, and for Con fd-
ence-fake they feci themfelvcsconllraiii'd, and en-
forced lo do the like, God, your Highnefsknow-
eih, bv the Courfe of the Scriptures, luth dechred
Si:cceflion and having of Children to be one of the
[irincipa! Benedidlions in this Life ; and on the con-
trary, he h.iih pronounced contrarywife -. And
therefore jfiir (I A«ra pray'd to God for Jflue, fearing
that Eliazar, his Steward, Ihould have been his
Heir; and had Promife thai Kings (hould proceed
ot his Body. Hdnnah, the Mother of Sjotk//, pray-
ed loGodwiih Tears for Ifl'ue: And Eiizaheth,
(whofe Name your Majefty beareth) Mother to
'Jii'i the Baptjft, was joyful when God had blelTed her
wiih Fruit, accounting herfelf thereby to be delivered
from Reproach. And as this is a Blefling in pri-
vate Houfes, fo is it much more in Kingdoms, as
it plainly appeareth in the two Kingdoms of ^rusl
and Judab. Unto the Kingdom of Judah, con-
taining but two Tribes, or thereabouLS, God gave-
lineal Succeffion by Defcent of Kings ; and there-
fore, they continued along Time. The Kingdom
of //f.-Jf/, containing ten Tribes, or ihereahouis, of-
ten deftitule of lawful Heirs, the one half of the
People following the one, and ihc other half follow-
ing the other, hy Wars and Seditions weaVen'd. came
fonn to Ruin, as plainly appeareth by the ihitd and
fourth Pock of Kings. And again, in the Time of
the Judges, becaufe there was no ordinary Succeffion,
the People were ofientimes overcome, and carried
into Captivity. Beiides, it is plain, by the Scrip-
lures, that godly Goveriiours and Princes (as Fathers
of their Countties) liavc always been careful to avoid -
Xhe
Cy- E N G L A. N D. 6^
the great Evil that might enfue, [Iiroggh Want «f QujsoEn.^b
Limitation of SuccefTion; therefore Mojes did en- 1566,
]o\ajojhua to be his Succeflbr, and Dov/Wiiis Son
S^mon ; wherebya Sedition was appealed, begotten
br Adonijah: Of tliia there be many Exnmp'es.
f artber, feeing it may be eafily gathered by Experi-
ence of all Ages paft, that Civil Wars, EfFjfion of
Qiriftian Blood, and confequenily Ruiiii u{ Kiug-
domsdo follow, where Realms t>e left without a
(^Cainty of Succeffion ; and your M.>jefty is alfo
inform'd of the fame, and fued unto for Redrels :
If therefore now no lufficient Remedy fhould be by
Jour Highnef? provided, that then it (liould be a
daDgerous Burden, before God, to your Majefty,
md you were to yield a ftridl Account to GuJ for
tile ^me ; confiderin^ vou are placed, ?.s the Pro-
' phct 'Ezekiil faith, in alt'jftmti Specula of ihls Com-
monwealth, and fee the Sword coming, and provide
no Remedy for the Defence of it. Lallly, Tlie
Spirit of God pronounceth, by the Mouih of St.
Paul, 10 Jimolhy^ That whsfiitver maketh no due
Previfionfsr his FamHy, ii in very great Danger ta
Goi-ward ; and alfo by the Mouth of St. Jabn,
That whafiever feeth but one Brother in Neieffiiy, and
dithjhut up the Biweh of Pily and Cempaffivn frem
him, hath not the Love of God remaining in him :
Whereby it is plain and manifeft, how fearful a
Thing it were, if this whole Realm, containing fo
many Families, were not, in a perilous Cafe, upon
iheir Suit provided for ; or if the Bowels of Mercy
I ihould be (hut up from fo many Thoufaiids, which
I every Way were like to fall into mod extream Mi-
I ferics, if God Ihould call your Highnefs without
I Certainty ofSuccefRon ; which we pray to God
\ may never happen. Moft excellent Princefs, the
\ Places of Scripture containing the faid Threalnings,
I be fet forth with more Iharp Words than be here
I cxprelTed. Thus, moft gracious Sovereign, your
^LZrfPlds and Nobles, both Spiritual and Temporal,
^Wiaw-^ as briefly as they can, firft ihewed to your Ma-
^^ , how diverliy they take themfeives bound, to
.i thefc their humble Petitions unto you ; and
E 3 ' then,
70 The 'Parliamentary Histort
bcth. 'hen what their Petitions be ; and after that what
Reafons for worldly Refpefls, and what by the
Scriptures, and for Coiifcience-Sake, have mov'd
them thus to do ; which here upon iheir Knees, ac-
cording to their hounden Duly, they moft humbly
and earneftly pray yourMajefty to have Confidera-
tion of in Time ; and to give them fuch favourable
and comfortable Anfwer to the fame, that fome
good EfFefl and Conclufion may grow before the
End of iheSefllon of this Parliament, the uitermoft
D^iy of iheir greateft Hope, whereby ihis Common-
wealih, which your Highnefs found to be Latcritia,
as Augiijhi did his, and by your great Providence is
now come to be Marmorea, fhall not for Want of
performing this, if God fhall call your Highnefs,
without Heir of your Body, be in mere dangerous
Eftate nnd Condition, than ever .it was that any
Man can remember. True it is, that this Suit is
made by my Lords, not without great Hope of good
Succels, by reafonof the Expeiience that they have
had of your bountiful Goodnefs Ihcwed to them,
and the reft of your loving Subjedls, divers and fun-
dry Ways, fince the Beginning of your Reign ;
which they pray God long to continue, to his
Honour, with all Felicity.'
Her Majefty's Anfwer.
there can be na duerDeht than a Prince's IFord,
keep that unfpetted^ for my Part, as sue that
would be lath that the felf-fame Thing that keepelb
Merchants Credit /rem Craze, Jhould be the Cauje
that a Prince's Speech Jhauld merit Blame, and fa their
Honour fuail ; therefore I will an Anjwer give, and
ths it is : the two Petitions that piiprejented me
[which mjifi deubtlefs relate to the twefeveral 'Paris
tf one and the Jame Petition, Vu,, the Marriage and
the Sncctjfitn, and might not improptrly be fo called
the' ceucfo'd in one Body, and as the TVords alfifolinv-
ing do in Manner explain it) exprefi'i many IVords,
which contained in Sam theje two Things, as ofymr
Citres the greate/l, my Marriage and my SucceJJion.
Of
Qliice 1
QTENGLAND. 71
0/whJch iwB I think the laji beH to be tsuch'd, a'i^fl/"Qj«nElirabeib.
'Ut ether a filent Thought may ferve. Fir, 1 thought 1566.
'ibadbeiH fodefir'd, as nmi ether Treii Bb£it" /hould
Liflw been minded, or ever any Hope of any F- uii had
'tin den'ed ynu^ And yet by the Way, if any here
tubtj that lam, by Vs'W or Determination, bent ne-
tr to trade in that 'Kind of Life, put out that Kind
fHerefie; for your Btlief is therein awry. For
hf I can think it befl for a private Woman, yet J do
mve with myfilf not to think it meet for a Prince ;
{ if I can bend my Liking to your Need, I will not
ll! Jiich a Mind.
rBut, to thelali, think not that you had needed this
P^rey if I had feen a Time fo fit, and it fi ripe to be
Atieunted. The Greatnefs of the Cavfe. thexefore, and
Need of your Returns, doth make me fay that vjbich I •
think the Wife may eafily guefs, that as afl)ort Time,
ftrf* long Continuance, ought not to pafs by roat, as
many telltbetr Tales \ even fo, as Caufe by Conference
Wilb the Learned psalljhew me Matter worth the
VUerance for your Behoof, fo jhall Imore gladly pur-
Jtteyour Good, after my Days, than ivith all my Pray-
ers, ivhil^ Hive, be Means to linger my living Thread,
And thus, much more than I thought, will I add for your
^i£emfort : / have good Record in this Place, that 0-
^Uitr Means than you mention, have been thought ofy
^Kmrchance for your Good, as much as for my Surety, no
WiS^i'a which, ifprefently and conveniently could have
Hen executed, it had not been now dejerr'd or over-
flipped. But I hope I Jhall die in ^iet with Nunc
Dimittts ; which cannot be, without I fee fome
Giimpje of your following Surety, after my graved
Bones.
The Houfe of Lords having received this Anfwer
to their Addrefs, were, feemingly, fatisfied j but the
Commons were much hotter in the Affair ; ^n'^'^'s^t!^"" 4'"
Cambden writes, Dutton, Wentwortb and other Mem- ^'„^' g'„t
beis of that Houfe, fuch as S^// and Monfin, great Debit«.
Lawyers, grated hard on the Queen's Royfl Prero-
>ative. They maintained, amongft other Points,
" ""' "' ! ate bound to appoint a Succeflbr ;
' that
7 2 The Tarliamentaiy H i stor t
:nttiiibith.' that the Aifedion of the Subjeft is ihe mod ira-
1566. ' pregnable Bulwark and Support of the Prince;
* but that Princes can gam this Affcfllcn no oiher-
* wife, ibm by providing for the Welfare of their
* Suhjedts, both whillt after ihey live and after
* their Death. And which can by no Means be
* done, but where 'tis certainly known who fhall
* fucceed to the Throne. Th.it the Queen, by
' not appoiniing a SuccelFor, did at once provoke
' the Wrath of God and alienate the Hearts of her
' People. Whereas, would (he pofl'els the AfFec-
* tions of her Subjeds, ard the F'avour of God,
' and live for ever in the Remembrance of her Peo-
* pie, ihe muft of Couife nominate a SuLceflbr.
* If not, flie would be rather a Step-Mother of her
' Country, orfomething wotl'e, than the Nurfing-
* Mother thereof; as, being, feeminyly, delirous
' that fiffn/flW, which lived as it were in her, fliould
* r.aher expire with than furvive or out-laft her,
* That none but timorous Princes, or fuch as were
' hated by their People, or faint-hearted Women,
* did ever ftand in Fear of their Succeflors; nor
* can that Prince, with any Eeafon, apprehend
* Dangers from a Succeflbr, who is fortified and
' iecured by the Love and Duty of his Subjeds.'
The Qi.]een being made acquainted with the Bold-
•- Qfif'D r,efs of ihele Speeches, it gave her no little Concern,
'/■("' for the prefeni, tho' fhe feemed 10 overlook it.
She knew very well the Hazard of naming and ap-
pointing a SuccelViir, by her own Experience ; the
Secrets of her late Sifler'sBed-Chamfacr, having
been brought im mediately to her, by thofe who had
a Mind to worfhip the riJ:ng Sun. However, the
Points above- mentioned being (till infilted 011,
with much Heat and great Infolence; and the Mem-
bers f<i aidariojs as to back their Pertnefs with In-
vedivesand Abufes, the Queen was icfolved to put
a Stop to ihefe Proceedings. Accordingly, herMa-
je(ty commanded thirty Members of the Lower
Houfe, as is men[ioned in the Joumahy along with
the Commiiite of Lords, to m^ke iheir Appearance
^efoje her. On their coflilnj to her, (he etidea-
* vouve4
0/" E N G L A N D. 73
vouied firft to fmcMth and qualify their Minds by Quee„Ei;,^,i,.
many obliging ExprefTioiis; but, afterwards gave 1566.
ihem a fmart Reproof, in which, however, flie
mixed fome Sweetnefs with Majefty. Slie promifed
tbcra to manage Things not only with the Care of
a Prince, bat the Tenderners of a Parent ; by
which Means fhe diverted them from their Refolu-
lion. And, becaufc the Parliament had offered
greater Sublidies than ufual, on Condition {he
would declare a Sutceflbr, Ihe utterly refuCed that
extraordinary Supply, and accepted of a much fmal-
lerSum. Abating the Receipt of the fourth Pan
of ihe Money fo granted ; and telling them, after
commending their Regard for her, that Money in her
Subjeils Purfe, was as good as in her own Exchequer.
This is the Subftance of what the Hiftorian writes
of this Matter; as, indeed, it is alfoof what we ,, .
find in the 'Journals of the Commons, about it :
Except that two Inhibitions were fent to that Houfe,
by the Queen, exprefly forbidding them to proceed ^"tL^p^ilfjj^
" that Affair any farther. This occafioned a Mo-infsonihiiSub.
in to be made, by Paul lyentworth, Efq; tai=fl«
low whether the Queen's Commands and Inhibi-
tion were not againft the Liberties and Privileges of
the Houfe ? On which nice Queftion, the Debates^
aforementioned, were grounded. Many Argu-
menis enfued upon this; and the Deb.ue lafted from ■* * r->
Nine in the Morning, November mh, tillTwoin
the Afternoon. Next Day the Speaker was again
fent for to Court; who reported to the Houfe,
* That he had received a fpecial Command from
* the Queen, that there fhould be no farther Talk
' of that Matter ; and if any Perfon thought hm-
' fdf not fatiified, and had further Reafons, let him
* come and ihew them before the Privy Council.'
But we find that fome Time aftes, November
25th, the Speaker, comir^again from her Majelty,
declared 10 the Houfe, ' That for the Good-Will
' (he bore to them, fhe did revoke her two former
' Commandments ; but defired tne HoLsfe to pro-
' ceed no further in the Matter at th.it Time."
Which Revocation, Jays the Jcunial, was uken
by
74 y^"? Parliamentary History
QuMnElizabeth.f'y ^^ Hourc uioft joyfull/i wiih moft hearty
1566. Prayer and Thanks for the fame. — In this Difpoli-
tion, however, the Queen continued all her Life ;
flie would never fuffer an k&. of Parliament to be
made to feltle the Succeflion ; as very well know-
ing that, after her, it would fettle itfelf, anvi the
Crown devolve, as file afterwards exprefl'ed on her
Death-Bed, to her Coufin the King of Sw/r.
The Supply was moved in the Huufe of Com-
mons, Oilder i/ih, by Mr Comptroller Rogers^
and feconded by Secretary Cecil; who declared,
' That it was to defray the Queen's Chaises at
* Newhaven, theN.wy, and the Munitions againft
' JohnONiylt, m Ireland:
This Bill was feni up to the Lords, on the 17th
Day of December, r.ead a fitft Time in the After-
noon of the fmie Day, and palled that Houle on the
A SubBiy, i8th. The Grant was one Fijteaith, one Tenth,
and a Sah/idy ; a Subfidy from the Clergy had been
confirmed by Parliament fome Days before (i).
Part nf this Tax, as our learned Author writes, the
Queen remitted j as not caring to lie under too high
an Obligation to her Parliament, confidering fte
was refolved not to oblige them, either in taking a
Husband herfelf, or declaring a Succeflbr to the
Crown.
Mr. Cambdsn takes Notice but of one Afl that
i^J^Kh^vt P^"'''^ '^'^" Seffion, tho' the Lift in the Lord's Jour-
lidi ™AiieEng- "''/i mention the Titles of thirty-four. Indeed,
lift Ordination, there ate few or none Of them hiftorical enough to
be taken Notice of, in this Place, except an Aft,
declaring ' the Eleftion, Confecration, Confirma-
' tion and Inftallment of the Archbifliops and Ei-
* fliops of England, to be good and lawfiil ; and
' that the faid Bilhops were eleGed and confecratcd
' duly, and according to the Laws of the Land."
But this Atl did not pafs the Houl'e of Lords una-
nimouily ; for on the third Reading of the Bill, Na-
vemier 6ih^ -we find that the Earls of A^or^iami^r-
/dW, mjimorland, WoTcefler and Sujjix ; the Vif-
count Montague ; ihe Barons Msrlry, Dudley^
Dacrt,
((■} This was V- '" 'he Pound, to be paid in ihtee Yeirs.
0/ E N G L A N D. 75
.Datriy MmtiagUi Cromweli and Mardaunt, pro- Qu«nTHnbcdi.
teftcd againil it. We may fuppofe [hat this fmall is«.
Number of Peers was all the Strength the Papijh
Party had then in the Houfe i anj that the Biftiops
were allfteady and unanitnous in fup porting their
own Creations. But tho' the Ramanijis were weak
■ amongft the Reprefenialives of the Nation, yet in
the Body of it their Power was very ftrong. In
order to lubvert the Prstejlant Religion, they ftruck
at the very Fundamentals of that Priefthood, by af-
fcrting, boldly, That the Ordination of their Bifhops
was falfs and counterfeit J not being able toprovea
regular Succeflion from the Apoftolic Times. This
Difpute has lafted even down to our own Time :
But a famous Frtnih Priell(^J,fome few Years ago,
cleared up thatPoint, in Behalf of the Englijh Cler-
gy ; and has fet the infamous Siory of the Nag's-
Head Confecration, entirely aiide. In Queen Eli-
zabeth'^ Time, however, theDifpuIe was ended by
,Bti A<5t of Parliament, which not only declared, as
.above, butbyii was enaftcd, ' That both the pre-
"• fent Bilhops, and all fuch as fliould be hereafter
• coofecrated, were to be deemed truly and lawfully
• fuch, any former Law, or Canon, to the con-
• trary, notwiihftanding(/).'
Amongft the A£ts palled this Seflion, not menti-
oned in the printed Statutes, the follewing are moll
remarkable ;
' An Aift for taking the Benefit of the Clergy
• from certain felonious Offenders.* other Aas,
' An Att for the Corporation of Merchant-Ad-
' venturers, for the difcoveting of new Trade.'
' An Act for the Conlirmation of Letters Patents
• granted to the Merchant-Adventurers of the City
• of BriJhL'
' An Afl: confirming the Queen's Letters Patents
' concerning the Making of Alum and Coperas,
• within her Realms and Dominions.'
* An Ad for the making Salt in the fame, i^c'
In
(k) pjther It Ceurajir, Canon of St. Gaaoiivc at P«™.
(/) Sututa at krp. An. Elk. Rtg. %. C. 1,
y6 7he T^arVuimentary HisToRT
(feetnEliiibtth. I" this Seflion a Bill was brought into the Houfe
ijfifi. of Lords, and read twice, ' That no Man kil-
■ ling any Perfon at, what is called in the Jnurnah,
' xJ5 Pricks, or lorrger Mark, fliall forfeit his Goods
* or ChatelsfmJ.' Which Bill, becanfe it touched
the Queen's Prerogative, it was thought convenient
to proceed in it no fatther, till her Majefly's Plcaiu:e
was known therein. But we hear no more of it.
Laftly, an Afl for a free and general Pardon, as
was in every Parliament of this Rtign, was pafled.
The Bills being all ready, after a fhort Ad-
journment, from the jorh of December, to the
2d of January ; on that Day, the Queen
came, by Water, from iVhilehaU, as was her
uliial Cul^om, and landed en the Back -Side
of the Parl]:imenc - Chamber. ' After which,
being apparel'd in her Parliament- Robes, with
a Caul on her Head, (he came forth, and proceed-
ed up and took her Seat ; the Marquefs oi Nortb-
(impisn, carrying the Cap of Maintenence, flood
on her Right Hand, and ihs l^.A'cioi IVeJlmoriajid
the Sword at her Left Hand, with the Heralds and
Serjeants at Arms before her ; the Queen's Mantle
horn upon either Side from her Arihs, by the Earl
of Lekefter, and the Lord Hun/don, who always
ilood ftill by her for the aflifting thereof, when fhe
flood up ; her Train born by the Lady Strange, af-
filed by the Lord Chamberlain, and Vice-Cham-
berlain. Atthe Left Hand of the Qiieen, and South
Side, kneeled the Ladies; and behind the Queen,
at the Rail, (lo(.id the Lord Keeper on the Rigjit
Hand, the Lord Treafurer on the Left Hand, with
divers young Lords and Peers eldeft Sons,
' Then all being placed, Mr. Onfltna the Speaker
was brought in, between Sir Frauds Knollfs Vice-
Chamberlain, and Sir Ambrofe Cave Chancellor of
the Dutchy ; and alter Reverence done, proceeded
down to the Wall, and from thence came up to the.
Rail, in the Way making three Reverences ; and
Handing there, made other three likf Reverences,
and then began his Or.ition, as followeih :
(»] We fupforc tliiswjs nwoling mth Bowanl ArrJ w.
0/ E N G L A N D. 77
Majl ixciUeni and virium Prinafi, &c. QiKenEiiubt
' VV Knighis, Citizens and Burgeflesof thisontioo to .
' your Nether Houfe, to hetheir Mouth, or Speak- Qh"". ." ""
' et, and thereunto appointed and allowed by Your J^'t'^p.'iu^rocn'
' Majefty, to fopply the fame Room, to ihebe-
' wraying of my Wants; efpecJally, that thereby I
' (hall be forced utterly to dilcover the Bnrrennefs of
I * my Learning before this noble Aflembly, which
not a iitllc grreveth me, and would gladly be ex-
cufed, confidering the tiue Saying, How there is
no Difference between a wife Man and a Foot, If
they may keep Silence ; which I require. But,
again, confidering your Majefty's Clemency, tak-
ing in good Part the Goodwill of the Paity for
^- Want of Ability, which putteth me in Reraetn-
'"• branee and good Hope, perfuading me that you
* will not take yo'jr faid Clemency from me, con-
* trary to your Nature.
' Again, when I confidermy OfSce as Speaker,
* it is no great Matter, being but a Mouth, lo utter
* Things appointed meio fpeak unto you, andnot
* otherwife; which confifteth only in fpeaking, and
* not in any other Knowledge; whereby I gather
' how it is neceflary, I fpeak limply and plainly, ac-
* cording to the Truth and Trull repoled in me.
* And thus, confidering whofe Mouth I am, which
' chofe me to fpeak for them, being the Knights,
' Citizensand Burgefles, who were not alio by the
' Commons chofen for their Eloquence, but for
* their Wjfdom and Difcretion ; by this Meanj,
' being fit Men to whom the Commons have com-
' milted the Care and Charge of themfelves. Wives
* and Children, Lands and Goods ; and (o in their
* Behalf <o forefee,. and take Older for all Things
* neceflary. Thus they being chofen by the plain
* Commons, it is necelfary they e!ed a phin Speak-
* cr, fit for the plain Matter, and therefore well
* provided at ftrft to have Tjch a one as fhould ufe
* plain Words, and not either fo fine that ihcy can-
^8 The ^Parliamentary History
,_' not be underftood. or elfe lo eloquent, lint now
' and ihen they mifs the Cufliion.
' But now, upon Occafion of beholding your
' Grace and this noble All'embly, I confirierthe
' manifold and great Benefits, which God fuddenly
* haih fent unto this Country ; for, although God
* hath granted the Benefit of Creation and Confer-
' vaiion, with many other Commodities, to other
* Nations of the World, yet this our Native Coun-
* try he hath blefled, not only with the like, but
* alio with much more Fruitfulncfs than any other ;
* of which great and ineftimSbk Benefic of God'a
* Preferment, which appeareth better by the Want
* that others have of the fame, I am occafioned
* now to Ipeak, the rather to move and ftir up our
* Hearts, to give moft hearty Thanks to God for
* the fame.
* Now lo fpeak of Government by Succeflion,
' Eleifllon, Religion or Policy j fjtft, If the Body
' (hould want a Head, it were a great Monftcr;
* fo it is likewifc if it have many Heads, as if upon
* every feveral Member were a Head. And to
* fpeak of one Head 5 although in the Hody be fcve-
' ral Members, which be made of Flefh, Bones, Si-
' news and joints, yet the one Head thereof govern-
* eth wifely the fame; whi^h if it fliould want,
* we fhouid be worfe thin wild Beafts, without a
' Shepherd, and fo worthily be called a monftrous
* Beaft.
' Ag^in, If the Body fhouid be governed by
' many Heads, then the fame would foon come to
* Deftrudtion, byreafnnofthe Controverfy amongft
' them, who would never agree, but be deftroyed
* without any Foreign Invaiion j thertfore God
* feeih itis needful that the People have a King,
* and therefore a King is granted them; and lo
' therefore the befl Government is to be ruled by
* one Kinj?, and not many, who may maintain and
' cherifh the Good and Godly, and punilh the Un-
' godly and Offenders.
' As for Government by Eleflion, in that is
' grein Variatice, particularly. Strifes and Part-tafc-
''iBgfc
0/ E N G L A N D. 79
' ings- As for Examples, amongll the reft, takcQ^
' out one, which is called the Moll Holy, as that
* of the Pope J and weigh hovi' holily and quietly
' it is done, called indeed holv and tjuiet, but utler-
' ly unholy and unquiet, with great Part-takings
' and Strifes.
' Now touching Religion. To fee the Divine
' Providence of God, how that many Nations fac
' governed by one Prince; which weie impoffible,
' but th;it God ordereth it fo, by whom ihe Or-
' der of Regimen is appointed, and that in his
' Scriptures ; wherefore the Sabjefls ought to obey
' the fame, yea although they were evil, and much
' more thofe that be good. So God hath here ap-
' pointed us not a Heathen, or unbelieving Prince,
•' as he might, but a faithful, and one of his own
* Children, to govern us his Children: In which
f Government the Prince ferveth God two Ways ;
* as a Man, and as a King. In that he is a Man,
* he ought to live and ferve God, as one of his
^ good Creatures j and that he is a King, and fo
* God's fpccial Creature, he ought to make Laws
' whereby God may be truly worlhipped, and that
' his Subjects might do no Injury one to another,
-' and efpecially to make Quietnefs amongft the
* Minifters of the Church ; lo extinguifh and put
' away all hurtful and unprofitable Ceremonies, in
* any Cafe contrary to God's Word : In which
' Point, we have, in your Majefty's Behalf, great
* Thanks to give unto God, in fetting forth unto us
' the Liberty of God's Word, whereof before we
' were bereaved, and that you have reformed the
* State of the corrupt Church, now drawing Souls
■ out of dangerous Errors, which afore by that
* Corruption they were led and brought unto.
' And concerning Policy, God hath committed
* to your Highnels two Swords i the one of which
' may be cJled the Sword of War, to punilli out-
* ward Enemies withal ; and the other the Sword
' of Juftice, to correft offending Subjects. In
* which Point of Policy, YourMajefty is not behind
* your Progenitors i for akhoughj at your Entrance,
* you
8o The TarVtamcntary Histort
uiEiiubeih. ' you found ihis Realm in War, and ungarnilhed
H66. t ^jjh Munition, and that with iuch Store as never
' was before; yer you have diilodged our antient
' Enemies wliich were planted and placed even
* upon the Walls of this Realm. And concerning
* Policy in Laws, as Bones, Sinews and Joints be
' the Force of a natural Body, fo are good Laws
' the Strength of a Commonwealth : And your
' Laws be confifting of two Points, the Common
' Laws, and the Statutes.
' And for the Common Law, it is fo grounded on
' God's Laws andNature's, thai three feveral Nati-
* ons governing here have all allowed the fame ;
' which is notinferiori but rather fuperior, and more
* indifferent than any other Law. For, by our
■ ' Common Law, although there be for the Prince
* provided many PrinceJy Prerogatives and Royal-
* ties ; yet it is not fuch, as the Piince can take
' Money, or other Things, or do as he will, at his
' own Pleafure, without Order : But quietly to
* fufFer his Subjedb to enjoy their own, without
' wrongful Oppreflion, wherein other Princes by
' their Liberty do take as pleafeth them.
' Ariflotle faiih. That the Life of the Prince is
' the Maintenance of thcLaws, and that ii is belter
' to be governed by a good Prince, than by good
' Laws i and fo your Majefty, as a good Prince,
' is not given to Tyranny, contrary to your Laws ;
' but have and do pardon divers of your Subjefls
* offending againlt the Laws. Ab now for Ex-
' ample of your fpecUl Grace, you have granted a
' general Pardon, either without our Seeking, or
' Looking for ; whereby it is the better welcom.
' Again, Your Majelty hath not attempted to make
' Laws contrary to Order, but orderly have called
* this Parliament, who peiceived certain Wants,
' and thereunto have put their helping Hand. And
* for Help of evil Manners, good Laws are brought
* forth ; of the which we befeech your Excellent
* Majefty, fo many as you (hall aliow, to infpire
* With the Breath of your Majefty's Power i wherc-
H '
'by
0/ ENGLAND. Si
whereby ihey may be quickened, which now wanlQiiej„Eu„^thi
' Life, and fo be made Laws. >iSfl.
' Furthermore concerning Payments to be made
' to ihe Prince, it is as to deliver the fame to God's
' MiniD:ers, who aie .-ippointed always for our Do-
' fence; wherefore your humble Subjefls do offer
' aSublidy, to be put into your Majefty's Treafure ;
' which, although it be but as a Miie.or a FarLhing,
' yet is the good Will of them to be reputed as the
' poor Widow's was in the Gofpet ; wherein I muft
' not omit to do that which never Speaker did be-
' fore viz, to defirc your Majefty not to regard this
* Gmple Offer of ours, but therein to accept our
' good Will, wherein yourHighnefs hath prevented
' me in taking in the bell Part our good Will ; and
' required us to retain in our Hands Part of our
' Gift, and accounting it to be in our Purfes as in
' your own; andfo isour Duty, belides the Policy
* thereof, it being for our own Defence : And alfo
' Honefty, for that we have received many Bene-
' fits by your I\lajefty ; for he that dolh a good
' Turn, deferveth the Praife, and not he which af-
' terwards goeth about to reward, or doth reward
' the fame. Alfo giving molt hearty Thanks to
' God, for that your Highnefs hath iignified your
' Pleafure of your Inclination to Marriage ; whicli
' afore you were not given unto, which is done for
' our Safeguard ; that when God fhall call you, you
' fliill leave of your own Body to fucceed you,
' which was the grcateft Promife that God made
' to David, and the greateft Requeft that Abraham
' defired of God, when God promlled him exceed-
* ing great Reward : Who faid. Lard, vjhat wilt
' tiaigive me, when I go childhfs, and he that is the
' Steward sftttine Hiufe, is mine Heir ? Therefore
' God grant us, that, as your Majefty ha:th defen-
dedihe Faith of Abraham, you may have the hke
Dcfire of IlTue with you. And for that Purpofe,
that you would (hortly embrace the holy State of
' Matrimony, to have one, when and with whom
' God Ihall appoint, and bell like your Majefty ; and
MbthellTue of your own Body, by your Example,
F ' lute
S a The Tarlianientary History
rabcth. ' tu'"^ ^^^^ °"' Pofterity ; and that we may ob-
i. ' tain this, let us give our moft humble Thanks to
' God for his manifold Beiiefilsbeftowed upon ut,
' And piay forthe Reign of your Majefty's Ifl'ue,
' after your long-defiied Governmeni.*
Then the Lord Keeper (after the Queen had cal-
led him, and told him herMindJ anfwered to Mr.
Speaker, and faid,
Mr. Speaker,
iKetp- rin HE Queen hath heard and urderftood your
*"• _J. wife and eloquent Oration, v;hereby prin-
cipally I gather four Things ; Firft, difabling
yourlelf. Secondly, concerning Governance,
I The Third, touching the SuMiJy. And.laftly,
in giving Thanks ; which alfo was intermingled
Very wjfely in all Parts of your Oration.
' And for the firft. In difabling yourfelf, you have
* therein contrartly bewrayed your own Ablenefs.
' For the Second, concerning Governance, as
* well by SucceQion as Eledlion, of Religion and
' Policy, in which Difcourfe you have dealt well,
' I therefore leave it, and mean to fpeak only a few
' Words, as to your laft Word, Policy.
' Pohtick Orders be Rules of all good Aits, and
' touching thofe that you have made to the Over-
* throwing of good Laws, they deferve Reproof as
' well as the others deferve Praife ; in which like
* Cafe you err, in bringing her Majefty's Preroga-
' tive in Qiieftion, and for that Thing, wherein
* file meant not to hurt any of your Liberties. And
* again, tlie Grant of her Letters Patents in Quefti-
* on is notaliitle Marvel, for that therein you find
* fault; which is now no new -devifed Thing, but
' fuch asafore this Time hath been ufed and put in
' Pradtice; howbeit, her Majefty's Nature is mild
* and full of Clemency ; fo that flie is loth herein
' tobeaufterej and therefore, though at this Time
' (he fuSer you all lo depart quieily unto your
* Countries for your Ameadmeni> vet as ic is need-
I 0/ E N G L A, N D. 83
I * ful, fo (he hopeth ihat the Offenders will here- qu(,
I ' after life themfdvcs well.
f ' Again, touching the good Laws, which you
' have taken great Pains in making ; if they be not
' executed, they be not only as Rods without
' Hands to execute [hem, or as Torches without
' Light, but alfo breed great Contempt : There-
' fore look well to the Execution ; for, if it be not
* done, the Fault is in fomc of us, which flieput-
' leth' orderly in Trull to fee it done.
' For the third Point, concerning the Prefent-
' ment of the Subfidy, her Majefty biddeth me fay,
' That when the Lords Spiritual and Temporal
' granted it unto her, fo flie irufteth you will be as
' careful in gathering of it ; which I, and others be
' Witnefs, how very unwilling and loth flie was to
I ' take, but to avoid further Inconvenience.
* And laftiy, concerning Knowledge of Benefits,
' and giving of Thanks, which you have well de-
' clared be many, yet one in Comparifon above all,
' yea, a Fruit aboi'e all other, and whereby you
* may enjoy all the other, which is her Marriage ;
* whereof Ihc hath put you in good Hope.
* Further, I have to put you in Remecnbrancc of
' three Things ; the firil is, that where now you
' acknowledge Benefits, and as you have Caufe to
^vc Thanks ; fo lecondly, that you be not un-
' mindful hereafter to do the like; and thirdly, that
in all your Doings hereafter, you (how your-
felvcs, that all thefe Benefits be had in Remem-
' brance, and not forgotten ; for that it (hould be
' aThingagainft Reafon in humjn Creatures; c-
' fpccially therefore now it behovethyouall, asyou
' have acknowledged Benefits, and for them given
' Thanks in the firft Point, fo that you fee the o-
' ihcr twoobfcrved. And then her Majefty will
' not fail likewife thankfully to accept the fame.'
Then the Queen (landing up, faid ('after (he had
« r Royal AlTent unto nineteen publick Ads,
=^ ;een private)
F a Mjr
§4 TbeTafliamentary Histort
ih. My Lords, and others the Commons of this Af-
fembly,
JLthougb the Lord Keeper hath, according ta Or-
■" der, very well anfiuered in my Name^ yet us a
Periphrafti I have a few IP^ords further, tsfpeak un- ^
to ym : Nstvjithjianding I have not been ufed, nor hve
' to do ity in fuch open Afjembliei j yet now, not ti the ,
End to amend hii Tali, but remembring that common- -_
ly Princes own IVordi be better printed in the Hearers
Atemory^ than thafefpoken by their Command ; / mean '
to fay thus much unto you. I have in this Afjembly
found fo much Difftmulation, where I always prof efjei
Plaimiefs, that I marvel thereat \yea two Faces under
em Ho!d, and the Body rotten, being covered with twi
Vizors, Succeffton and Uierty, which they determined
miijl be either pre/enlly granted, denied or deferred.
Jngi anting whereof, they had their Defires, and de-
nying or deferring thereof (thofe Things being fo platd-
abh\ as indeed to all Men tirey are) they thought to
■work me that Mifchief, which never Foreign Enemy
t'juld bring topafs, which it the Hatred of my Commons.
But, alns ! they began to pierce the VeJJel before the
fkine was fined, and began a Thing uotfore/eeing the
End, how by this Means I havefeen my tPelkvillerf
from mine Enemies, and can, as me fiemtlh, -very
well divide the Hmje into four.
FirJI, the Breaehers and ff^oriers therecf, who art
in th^g'eatefl Fault. Secondly, the Speakers, who, by
eloquent Tales, perfuaded others, are in the next De-
gree. Thirdly, the Agners, who being fo Csght of Cre-
dit, thai the Eloquence of the Talcs Jo overcame them,
that tkey gave more Credit thereunto, than unto their
own tVits. And lafly, thofe that fat flill imUe, and
meddled not therewith, but rather wondered, dijallatv-
ing the Matter ; who, in my Opinion, are mo/l to be
txcufed.
But, do you think, that either I am unmindful of
your Surety by Succcjfion, wherein is all my Care, cen-
Jideritig 1 know myjeif to be mortal ? No, /warrant
you. Or that Iwetit about to break your Liberties ?
No, it wasnezeririmy Adeaning,but to flay you before
you fell into the Ditch, For all Things have their-
' . Timer
0/ E N G L A N D. 85
^im. Jndaihouibf perhaps, you may have, <?/*^'' Queen EiiMbetli*
m^ ene better teamed, or wifer ; yet lajjure you, 1566*
wu more careful over you : And therefore, hence*
forth, whether lUve to fee the like Affemhfy or no, or
kweuer it be, yet beware, however, you prove your
frmces Patience, as you have now done mine. And^
muioeoncludi, all this notwithftanding {not meaning
U make atont ^Chriflmas) the mojl Part of you may
sfitre your/elves^ that you depart in your Princes Grace.
kis Spccdi being ended, the Lord Keeper, by Jke P^riiaiwat
jhr Majeftv's Command, diffolved this Parliament. ^^'''•*-
r'\ We (hall not defcant on the Manner this Mag-
MumoQs Qjieen treated her Parliaments ; more In-
4Maices of which will appear in the Sequel. But,
£1^ have now a fpace of Five Years before We meet
.irhh another ; during which Time, the unfortunate
iQoeeD oi Scots had b^en driven out of her Kingdom,
■ )f her Rebellious Subjeds, and forced to feek Pro-
^Jetton from her near Kinfwoman and Sifter
_^ Elizabeth. In this Interval, alfo, a dangerous a ReWlioii Ui
.fidncaion, orRAellion, had happened in the North ^^ ^**^
^'fi England; headed by the Earls of Northumber-
M and Weflnoreland. It grew to fome Height
n a very fmall Time ; but was foon iuppreiled by
^^ Earl of Suffexj'who the Queen fent againft them.
The two Earls and the Chief of their Followers
l:iPtre&ftconvided of High Treafon, and outlawed,
^W ^rwards attainted by Parliament. Northum-
ierhsik loft his Head on a Scaffold at York, Weflmor^
ioA dudd a banifbed M^n abroad ; and many Exe-
y-Cttti(»)8 were a£ted on the reft, in different Parts of
^dlcKhlgdom. a ParHtment
li Tbofe Infurrcdlions happened in the Years i569caUed, aft«r •«
^ «id 1570 ; and the next Year, a Parliament was 5^J][^j^^®^eft*
1^ called to meet at Wejlminfler, on the zd Day of A- miniiery Anno
L |!n/, in the thirteenth of this Reign. Re«w i3> »57*-
~ The initial Ceremonies and Speeches of this Parli-
: fim^nt are wholly omitted in both the Joumnh ;
Ivimt Sir Sfmonds D'Ewes bath fupplied them from a
* lAanuicript- Journal, then in his Poffeflion, and taken
^ Iqr jibme Member of rbe Houfe of Commons in that
^^ JF 3 Par-
1
86 The Parliamentary Histort
4j2«enEK»bcth. Parliament. Weare perfuaded the Reader will cxcufe
xsi^* the Formality, if we give it, at length, in his owt
Words. The Proccffion to the Houfe of Lordr fc
fomewhat extraordinary, and carries more Pofli^
and Ceremony with it than thofe of the pfefieA
Times.
• On Monday the 2d Day of -^nV, the Paitth
ment beginning, (according to the Writs of Sunl^
monsfent foith; her Majeft/, about eleven ofdf
Clock, came towards IVeJiminfter^ in the anci
• accuftomed moft honourable raflage, having
riding before her the Gentlemen fworn to attend
Perfon, the Batchelors Knights, after them dK
Knights of the Bathj ^hen the Barons of the ExdW
quer, and Judges of either Bench, with the MUtW
of the Rolls, her Majefty's Attorney- GencraU |^
SoUicitor- General ; after whom followed in ^
i!er, the Bifhops, and after them the Earls, then
Archbifhop of Cantirbury.
* The Hat of Maintenance was" carried by ^
Marquefs of Northampton^ and the Sword hjiiitt
E2iTl of St/J/ex. The Place of the Lord Steward, fcr
that Day, was fupplied by the Lord Clinton^
Admiral of England j the Lord Great ChamI
was the Earl of Oxford. And the Earl M
by Deputation from the Duke of Norfolk^ was
Earl of Worcefter. -j
^ Her Majefty fat in her Coach, in her ImpeHffl
Robes, and a Wreath or Coronet of Gold, fet wM?
rich Pearls and Stones, over her Head ; her
drawn by two Palfries, covered with O
Velvet, drawn out, imbofled and imbroidered
richly. Next after her Charcot followed the Earl
Leuejler^ in refpeS of his Office of the Mailer of
Horfe, leading her Majefty 's Spare Horfe. i
then forty-feven Ladies and Women of Honour
the Guard in ibeir rich Coats going on every Side
them ; the Trumpeters before the firft, founcfing
^nd the Heralds riding, and^kecping their Rooms
Places orderly. In We/tminjier Church the Bift
pf Lincoln preached before her Majefty, whofe S
ippn t)eip^ done^ her Majefty came from the ChurdU
0/ E N G L A N D. S;
IheLordiall on Foot, in Orderasafore ; and over'i!i«"Ei;i»bet
JiEf Head a rich Canopy was carried all the Way, *5''*
Sijeheing entered into ihe Upper Houle of Parlia-
ment, and lliere fat in princely and ieemly Sort, ur-
derahigh and rich Cloth of Eftate ; her Robe was
fupported by the Earl of Oxford, the Earl of Sa^*
beelingi holding the Sword on the left Hand, and
ibeEarl of //an(/n£i^cn holding the Hat of Eftate,
and the Lords all in their Places on each Side of ihc
Chamber i that is to fay. The Lords Spiritual on the
Right Hand, and the Lords Temporal on the Left.
The Judges and her learned Council, being at the
Woolfacks in the Midft of the Chamber, and at her
Jlighnefs's Feet, at each Side of her kneeling one of
kite Grooms, or Gentlemen of the Chamber, their
^aces towards her ; the Knights, Citizens and Bur-
aefles all Handing below the Bar, her Majcfty then
HOOd up in her Regal Seat, and with a pi incely
Grace and lingular good Countenance, after a long
Say, fpake a few words to this EfFcfl :
My right loving Lords, anJ you our right faith-
" ' and obedient Subjefls,
'E in the Name of God, for his Service, and far
thtSafity oftkU Slate, are mw here a/em sp^^HTSn.
Uedy to his Glory, I hope, and pray that it may be to-ia^ tht p»riii,
jmr Ctmfsrt, and Ihe csmmsn ^let of our, yours, a/id"^'"'
aSmrs for ever.
* And then locking on the Right Side of her,
towards Sir Nicholas Bacon, Knight, Lord Keeper
of the Great Seat of England, (landing a little befide
the Cloth of Eftate, and fomewhat back and lower
from the fame, {he willed him to (hew the Caufeof
the Parliament, who thereupon fpake as followetli:
* 'T* H E Qiieen's Moft Excellent Majefty, our The Lnr*
' X moft dread and gracious Sovereign', hath *^"i*'''-
' commanded me to declare unto you, the Caufes
' ofyour calling and affemblingat this Time, which
* I mean to do as briefly as I can, !ed thereunto as
' one veryioth tobetedioustoherMajcliy,andalfo
•be-
W'^
S8 The T^arliamentary History
becaufe to wife Men, and we!I-difpofed(as I judge
you be) a few Words do fuliice. The Caufes he
chiefly [WO, the one to ellaWifh or diflblve Laws,
aR beft Ihall fcrve for the Governance of the
Realm. The other, fo to conlider of the Crown
and State, as it may be beft preferved in Time of~^
Peace, and bell defended in the Time of War^
gccording to the Honour due unto it. And be —
caufe in all Councils and Conferences, firft and
chiefly theie ftiould be fought the Advancement oE"
God's Honour and Glory, as the fure and infal-
lible Foundation, whereupon the Policy of every
good publick Wea! is to bierefled and built ; and
as the ftreight Line, whereby it is principally to be
dircfted and governed, and as the chief Pillar and
Buttrefs, wherewith it is continually to be fuftain-
ed and maintained; therefore, for the well-per-
forming of the former touching Laws, you are to
conlider, firft, Whether the Kcclefiaftical Laws
concerning the Difcipline of the Church, be fuf-
licientorno? and if any Want (hall be fouijd,
to fupply the fame ; and thereof the greateft Care
ought to depend upon my Lords the Bi (hops, to
whom the Execution thereof efpecially pertains,
and to whom the Imperfections of the fame be
beft known.
' And as to the Temporal Laws, you are to ex-
amine, whether any of them, already made, be
too iharp or too fore, or over burthenous to the
Subjedt ; or whether any of thein be too loofe or
too foft, and fo over perlUous lo the State, For
like as the former may put in Danger many an
Innocent, without Caufe, particularly ; fo the fe-
cond may put in Peril both the Nocent and In-
nocent, and the whole State univerfally. You
arealfo to examine the Want and Superfluity of
Laws ; You are to look wiiether there be too pu-
ny Laws fur any Thing, which breedeth fo many
Doubts, that the Subject fometimes is to ieek how
lo obferve them, and the Councellor how to give
( Advice concerning them.
'"■■■.■- 'Now
fi
Of E N G L A N D. 8p
'Now thefecond, which concerns a fufficient Pro- Quetntlliibeth,
' Tifion for the Crown and Slate ; herein you arc 's''-
' to call to Remembrance how the Crown 6t this
' Realm hath been many Ways charged extraordi-
' narily of late ; not pofTibly to be born by the ordi-
' uary Revenues of the Jame, and therefore of Ne-
' eeffity to be relieved otherwife as heretofore it hath
' commonly and neceflarily been. For, like as ihe
' ordinary Charge hath been always born by ordi-
' nary Revenues, fo the extraordinary Charge hath
'always been fuftained by an extraordinary Relief.
' This to thofe that be of Underftanding is known,
' not only to be proper to Kingdoms and Empires,
* but alfo is, hath been, and ever will bci a neceflary
' Peculiar partaining to a!i Commonwealths, and
' private States of Men » from the higheft to the
' loweft i the Rules of Reafon hath ordained it fo to
'be.
' Bur, here I reft greatly perplexed, whether I
' ought to open and remember unto you, fuch Rea-
' fons as may be ealily produced, lo move you
'■thankfully and readily to grant this extraordinary
' Relief or no : I know the Queen's Majcfty con-
' ceivcth fo great Hope of your prudent Forefeeing
' what is to be done, and of your good Wills and
' Readinels to perform that, which by Prudence you
* forefee, that few or no Perfuafions atall areneed-
' ful for the bringing this to pafs. Nevertheiefe,
' becaufebytheantient Order heretofore ufed, it is
my Office and Duiy fomewhat to fay in this
Cafe, and likewiic all Men alfo that be prefent,
neither underftard ahke, nor remember alike :
Therefore I mean, with your Favour and Pari- ''
ence, to trouble you with a few Words, touching
this Point. True it is, that there be two Things
* that ought vehemently to move us, frankly, boun-
'lifully,and readily to deal in this Matter. The
* former is the great Benefits that we have receiv-
' ed: The fecond isiheNecelTicy of the Caufe. If
' we fhould forget the former, we are to be char-
' gcd as moft ungrate and unihankTul ; and thePor-
f geifulnefs of the lecond doth charge us, as un-
• careful
90 Tlje Parliamentary Histort
(tjl^einEIitaUth. ' careful of our owti Livings and Libertiea, and of
*'''■ ' our Lives ; the former moveth by Reafon, and
* the (econd urgeth by Neceflity. And here, to
' begin with the former, albeit that the Benefits that
' the Realm hath received by God's Grace, and the
' Queen's Majefty's Goodnefsi both for the Num-
' her and Greatnefs, are fuch as may be more eafiiy
' marvelled at, than worthily weighed and conlider-
' ed : Yet mean I to remember briefly three of
' ihcm, whereof ihe firft and chief is reftoring and
* fettingat Liberty God's holy Word amorgft us;
' the greateft and moft precious Treafure that can
* be in this World : For that either dorh, orDiould
* benefit us in the bell Degree ; to wit, our Minds
* andSoulsji and look how much our Souls excel our
' Bodies, io much mult needs the Benefits of our
* Souls excel the Benefits of our Bodies ; whereby
' alfo, as by a neceffary Confequcnt, we are deliver-
' ed, and made free from the Bondage of the Ro-
' man Tyranny \ therefore this is to be thought
* of us the moft principal Benefit.
* The lecond is the ineilimable Benefit of Peace
' during ihe Time of ten whole Years together,
* and more ; and what is Peace I Is it not the
' richeftand moll wifhed for Ornament that pertains
' to any publick Weal \ Is no! Peace the Mark
* and End that all good Governments ditedt ilieir
' Adiionsunto ? Nay, is there any Benefit, be it
' never fo great, that a Man may taks the whole
' Commodity of, without ihe Benefit of Peace ?
* Is ihere any fo little Commodity, but through
' Peace a Man mav have the full Fruition of it ?
' By this wc generally and joyfully poflefs all ; and
' without this generally and joyfully we pofTefs no-
' thing. A Man that would f-fficicntlyconfiderall
» the Commodities of Peace, ought to call to Re-
* membrance all the Miferies of War ; for in Rea-
* ion it feems as great a Benefit in being delivered of
* theonc, asin the poffeHing of the other. Yet if
* there were nothing, the common and lameniable
' Caliimities and Miferies of out Neighbours round
* about us, for Want of Peace, may give us to «»-
' Uer-
0/ ENGLAND. 91
' derftand what Blellednefs we be in that poJTcls icQueti
' There be thnt never acknowledge Benefits to
' their Value, whilft they poifefs them, but when
' they are taken fiom them, and (b find Iheir Want;
* Marry, fuch be not worthy of them. Now is ii
' poflible, trow you, that this blelTed Benefit of
' Peace could have been from Time to Time thus
' long conlervcd and conferred upon us, bad not
' the Mind, Affeflion and Love,that our Sovereign
' bears towards us herSubjefls, bred fuch Care over
* us in her Breaft, as for the well-bringing of this
' to pafs, fhe hath forborn no Care of Mind, no
' Travel of Body, nor Expence of her Treafure,
'nor Sale of her Lands j no Adventuring of her
' Credit, either at Home or Abroad ? a plain and
' manifeft Argument, how dear and precious the
' Safety and Quiet of us her Subjefls be to her Ma-
' jefty. And can there be a greater Perfuafion to
' move us to our Power to tender the like ?
i * The third is the great Benefit of Clemency
* and Mercy. Ipray you, hath it been feen or read,
■* that any Prince of this Realm, during whole ten
•Years Reign, and more, hath had his Hands fo
f clean from Blood .' If no Offence were, her
' Majefty's Wifdom in Governing was ihe more to
* be wondered at i and if Offences were, then her
■ Majeily's Clemency and Mercy the more to be
* commended. Mi/erieordia ejus fuper omnia cpera
■' epts. Befides, like as it hath pleafed God ten
* Years and more, by the Miniftry of ourfaid So-
* vereign, to 6lefs this Realm with thofe two inefti-
* mable Benpfitsof Peaceand Clemency, fo there is
^no Caufe but the fame might by God's Grace
* have ccminued twenty Years longer, without
' Intermillion, had not the raging Romnnift Rebels
■* eniettained the Matter. And here itis to be noted,
' that this merciful and peaceful Reign of ten Years
•• and more, hath happ ned in the Time of Chrift's
* Religion now eltaWilhed. I cannot think that
■• any Man can follow me in this in the Time of
'* the R'.'milli Relgion lince the Conqutft Nay,
* a Man mi^hi affirm, that this is an Example for
* Titnes
pa 7he Tafliamentary Histort
QwoiEliziheth.* Times to Come, without any like in Times paft ;
ij?'* ' comparing Sngula finguUs, what (hould I fay ?
' thefe be ihe true Fruits of true Religion. I could
' ftjriher remember you of the Fruits of Juftice, the
* Benefit of reftoring your Money to Finenels ; 3'ea,
' I couid put you in Mind, but I thiuk it needs nor,
' it happened fo late, of a Sublidy granted, where-
' of the Queen's Majefty of her own Bountifulnefs,
' remitted the one half ; was the like here in Eng-
* landzvcT fecn or heard of? But being out of
* Doubl, that thefe lenefits already remembred be
' fufficient 01 themfelves to move yon to be ihank- ■
' ful to your Power, I leave any longer to detain
* you in this Point.
' And albeit a Subjed cannot yield any Benefit
' to his Sovereign in the fame Nature that he re-
* ceiveth it ; becaufe every Benefit is more than
* Duty, and more than Duty a Subject cannot
' yield to his Sovereign: Yet can it notbe denied,
' but a Subject's acknowledging of Benefits received,
' joined with Good-Will to yield as far as Liberty
* will reach, doth fufiicienily fatisfie for the Subjeit,
' for ultra pojje nm efl ejfe. To your bell Aiftions
* therefore addrefs ye. And thus much concerning
* Benefits.
' Now to the fecond Part, concerningutging by
* Neceflity, true it is, that the extraordinary Mat-
* ters of Charge, happened firce the laft Aliembly
f * here, urging to have by Neceflity a Relief granted,
' amongll many others be thefe. Firft, Thegrea^
* Charge in luppreffing the laic Northern Rebellion,
* with Charges alfo in reducing thofe the Queen's
* Majefty's Enemies in Scotland^ that afliiled the
* Rebels, and made Roads 'ya\':i England. The con-
' tinual growing Expences, by Reaibn of Ireland^
' as in fubduing the Rebels within that Realm, and
•,and withftanding the S«/i Northward, and other
* Foreign Forces, intending Invafion Southward.
* To thefe three Charges by Land, you may add a
* fourth by Sea ; as the Preparation and fetting fprih
' ofShips, partly for the Defence againfl all foreign
* Foices, fufpefted and intended, partly for the
' faf«
0/ ENGLAND.
93
' fire condufting of the Wares and Merchandizes Qy^,,
'in greater Siteiigth and longer Cut ihan hercto-
' fore hath been ufed. Thefe and luch hke exira-
' ordinary Charges, whereof there be fundry, with
' the Remains of old Charges not poflible to be bora
' by the ordinary Revenue, and yet of Netefliiyto
' be expended, do greatly exceed any extraordinary
' Aid therefore commonly granted. Again, the
' great Derayof the Qyeen's Majefty's Cuftonis,
' by reafon of Stay and Alteration of Traffick (albeit
' upon juft Occafion) hath bred no (mall Want ;
' for aiihough in Time it is not to be doubted, but
' that willgrow again tohisold Courfe, and conti-
' nue with great Surety : Yet, in the mean Time,
' this Want muft fome Way tie fupplied ; for you
' know the Horfe muft be provided for, whilft the
' Grafs is in growing. At the leaft, lei us do fo
' much for ourfclves, as we do for our Horfcs.
* For ourfelves it is that are to be relieved in this
* Cafe. This I mull needs fay, that if the Queen's
' Majefty did life in Matters of Ex pence, to do as
* commonly Princes heretofore have ufed to do,
* then with the more Difficulty might fuch extra-
' ordinary Aid be aflented unto, and yet of Neceffi-
' ty 10 be had, to withltand a greater Neceflity. It
' hath been ufed in Times paft, that Princes Plea-
' fures and Delights have been commonly followed
' in Matters of Charge, as Things of Neceflity.
' And now, becaufe. God be prailed, the relieving
* of the Realm's Neceflity is become the Princes
' Pleafure and Delight, a noble Converfion ( God
* continue it, and make us, as we ought to be car-
' neftly thankful for it ! ) a princely Example fticw-
* ed by a Sovereign for Subjei^s to follow. To de-
' fcend in fome Particulars. What need I to re-
* member unto you, how the gorgeous, fumptuous,
* fuperfluous Buildings of Time paft be fur the
* Realm's Good, by her Majeflry in this Time tur-
' ned into neceflary Buildings, and Upholdings?
* The chargeable, glittering, glorious Triumphs, ih-
* todeleflable Pailimes and Shows? EmbaUadors
* of Charge ilH9 fugh as be VQidof Excels, and yet
h^nguraMc
5)4 Tl^s Tarltamentary Histort
j^iwiiElaibMb.' honourable ami comely ? Thefeatid fuch like are-
»S7'« ' dangerous Dams, able to dry up the flowing
' Fountains of any Treafure; and ye[ tliefe Im-
* perfections have been commonly Princes Pecu-
' liars, efpecially younp:. One free from fhefe was
' accounted Rara aw;, ^i:. and yer (God be thank-
' edj a Pht-enix^ a blefled Bird of this Kind God
* halh blefled us with. I think it may be affirmed,
* and that truly, that there hath not been any Mac-
' ter of great Charge taken in Hand by her Ma-
' jefty in this happy Reign of twelve Years and
* more, that hath not been thought before conveni-
* ent to be done for the Weal and Profit of the
* Realm ; fo far her Highnefs is from fpending of
* Treafure in vain Matters, and therefore the rather
* how can a Man make any Difficulty to contribute
' according to his Power ? efpecially, in maintaining
' of his Sovereign, his Country, his ielf, his Wife and
* Children, and what not ? having fo long a Prcxif
' by Experience, of fuch an Employment? Here
' I would put you in mind of extraordinary Charges
' to come, which in Reafon fecms evident, but fo
' I fhould be over tedious unto you, zadfniflra fit
' per plura quad fieri poUjl per pauikra. And there-
* fore here I make an ETnd, doubting that I have tar-
* ried you longer than Ipromifed or meant, or per-
* chance needed, your Wifdoms and good Inclinati-
* ons confidered. But you know Things are to be
* done both in Form and Matter j and my Truft
* is, that if I had flayed, I may be warranted by
* either, or by both, th.it you will take it in good
' Pan.'
Next come the Names of the Receivers and Try-
ers of Petitions, in French, according to ancient Cuf-
^"'^*'^^^^"ytom. The Journalifi proceeds then to tell us, that,
Sp«kn* "' o" ^^^ 4^'^ Day of /Ipril, the Commons prefented
Chrijiapher IP'ray, Efq; Serjeant at Law, as their
Speaker ; whofe Excufe not being allowed, he made
an Oration in Subftancc as follows :
0/ E N G L A N D. ^s
Firit he faid, ' He defired to be heard to fay (^^.nEUijtt^
' fomewhat concerning the orderly Government is7».
' of a Commonweal, which to be duly tione, he
' faid, there were three 7'hings requifue, Religion, j^ 5 ^
' Authority, and Laws. By Religion he faid, "' ^"^
' we do not only know God aright, but alfo hov/
' to obey the King or Queen, whom God fliall
' aflign to reignoverusj and that, not in Tem-
' poral Caufes, but in Spiritual or Eccleliaflical ;
' in which wholly her Majelty's Power is abfolute.
' And leaving all Proofs of Divinity to the Bilhops
' and Fathers, as he faid he would, he prov'd the
' fame by the Praftice of Princes within this Realm,
' and firft ni?.de Remembrance of Lucius ihz?ii&.
' Chriftian King, who having written to Eluihe-
' r/ajthe Pope, 1300 Years part for the Roman
' Laws, he was anfwered, that he had the Holy
'Scriptures, out of the which he might draw good
* Dtfcreiion ; for that he was the Vicar of Chrijl
* over the People of Bniain. The Conqueror, he
* faid, in the Erection of B<J///e ^i/,/v, granted that
* the Church {hould bs free from ail Epifcopal Ju-
' tifdiftion,
* Henry the Third gave to Ranulph Bifhop of
' Lenden, the Archbifhoprick. of CanUrbury, by
' thefe Words, Rex, i^c. /ci/iiis guod dedimits Ji-
* ieii. mJJrs Ranulpho Archiepijivp. Cantuarien.
* quern itijUtuimui Aimlo is! B'lcula. The Ring, he
* faid, was the Sign of Perfei5tion ; the Staff the
' Sign of Paltoral Rule i which he could not do,
' if thefe Kings had not had and ufed the EccleQaf-
' tica! Powers. In the Reports of the Law, we
' find that an Excommunication of a certain Perfon
' came from the Pope under his Leaden Bull j and
' wasfliew'din Abatement of an Aflion broughtat
' the Common Law ; which, befides that it was
* of no Force, the King and Judges were of mind,
' that he who brought it had deferved Death, fo to
* prefumeon any Foreign Authority : Which Au-
' thotity being now, by God's Grace and her High-
' nefs's means, abolilhed, and the Freedom of
* Confcieoces, and the Tryth of God's Word efta-
* bliflied i
5)6 7"^!? T&rliamentary Histort
reuEluslieth. ' blillied ; we therefore oughc greatly lo thank
1571. * God and her.
* For Authority, or the Sword, whereby the
* Commonwealth is ftayed, three Things, he fa id,
' are requifite ; Men, Armour, and Money. For
' Men, their good Wills, he faid, were moft, be-
* ingof itlelf a ftrong Forirefs. For Armour, the
' NeceiEty he {hewed in part ; and how requifite
* Trcafure was, he a liitle declared. And conclu-
* ded, that all three mnft be conjoined, Men, Ar-
* mour, and Money.
' Laftly for Laws, the third Stay of the Com-
' monwealih ; he faid there mu ft be Confideration
* in making them, and Care in executing of them i
* in making fuch, as by the providing for one Part
* of the Commonwealih, the reft fhould not be
* hindred, which were indeed a Matter mofl per-
* nicious; and this he vouched out of Plata de Lt'
' gibus. For Execution, he faid, that fince the
* Lawof itfelf isbui muie, fet in Paper, not able
* to do ought, the Magiftrate (except he will be alfo
' mutejmuft be the Doer, and then is a good Law
' faid to be well made, when it is well executed ;
' for, Anima Legh eji Executia.
' Hereupon he faid fomeihing in Commendation
' ofhcrMajefty, who had given free Courfe to her
' Laws, not fending or requiring the Stay of Juf-
* [ice, by her Letters or Privy Seals, as heretofore
' fometimes hath been by her Progenitors ufed.
* Neither hath flie pardoned any, without the Ad-
' vice of fuch, before whom the Offenders have
* been arraigned, and the Caufe heard.
' His Oration being ended, he then made four
' Petitions ; firft that the Perfons, Servants, and
' Goods, ofallcoming to that Aflembly, might be
' free from all Arreils, Secondly, that for Caufe
* of Conference, they might have Accefs to her
* Majefty. Thirdly, if any fent fhould not truly
* report, or in Part miftake the Meaning of the
' Houfe, that the fame fhould be by her Highnela
■ favourably heard. And laftly, that intheHoufo
* allMen might have freeSpe^ch.'
This •
CfENGLAND. ^7
This Oration being ended, by Direflion from QueenEliiibetK.
her Majefty, and Inftrudions given what (hould be i57««
laid, the Lord Keeper anfwered thus, dividing bis
Speech into three Parts ; the firft, where he had
ibflictinies infericd Commendations of her Majefty,
ie6id, ' Her Highnefe would not acknowledge foxhe Qoeen*fl
* great Perfeftions to be in her ; but faid, that they Aafwer, by the
' Ihould be Inftrudlbns for her better Proceedings ^'o*^ Keepef.
* in Time to come. The fecond Part of his Ora-
' Don, he laid, concerning the Rule for ordering
' of the Commonwealth, (he well liked of, and
* wjihed, that as he had well conceived of it, and
* well uttered the fame, fo he and others would en-
* deavQur the Execution thereof.
' For his Petitions, he faid, her Majefty*8 Plea- .
* Aire was, tliat the firft (hould be granted ^ with
^ this Caution, ihat no Man fhould under their
Shadows, untruly proteft others. For the fe-
cmd, be faid, at Time convenient, her Pleafure
Was, they fhould come freely. Touching the
third Part, he faid, fhe could not imagine that
' among fo many wife Men it could happen; but
' if it fhould, her Grace would be content to remit
it. The fourth was fuch, that her Majefty hav-
ing Experience of late of fome Diforder, and cer-
tain Offences, which though they were not pu-
niflied, yet were they Offences ftill, and fo muft
be accounted ; therefore faid, they (hould do
wdl to meddle with no Matters of State, but fuch
I as ihould be propounded unto them, and to oc-
■,copy themfelves in other Matters, concerning the
^ Commonwealth.'
' The Speaker's Oration to the Queen, is laid,
[4e Journals of the Commons, to be two Hours
\\ di Confequence, this muft have been much
^ed.
'TKs laft Injunflion muft found harfli in the Ears
[an Englift) Houfe of Commons ; who have ever
!d themfelves on that darling Prerogative, Free-
of Speech. But we leave it to the Reader's
Refleftion, and go on to the other moft remark-
Proceedings of the Upper Houfe. And, the
Vol. IV. G firft
(^ecn Elizabeth
1571-
Earls of Nor-
thumberland,
WeftmorJand,
&c. attainted.
Bill relating to
Treafon.
9 8 The Parliamentary H i story.
firft Thing of Note we find the Lords went upc
was to bring in a Bill for the Attainder of TT)om
Piercy^ Earl of Northumberland ; Charles Nevt
Earl of ff^eJImorland,3ndi others. TheNamesof th<
other Perfons attainted, are not in the Journals ;. b
Cambden {a) has given us feveral of them ; befides t
two Earls, there were Ann^ Countefs of Northumh
land \ Edward Dacres^ of Morton^ commonly ts
led Lord D acres ; John Nevile, oi Lever fege ; y«
Swinborriy Thomas Mar kenfeldy Egremond RauSi
Brother to the Earl of SuJ/ex ; Chriflopher Nm
Richard Nor ton J of Norton - Comers \\Chriflophi
Marmadukey and Thomas^ of Jthe fame Family
Robert and MichaelTempeJ{\ George Staffordy and i
bout forty more, all of the beft Families in tl
North of England, The Bill of Attainder agair
thefe Perfons was read, in the Houfe of Lords, afii
Time, on the 6th of April ; pafled that Houfe <
the 28th ; and, being fent down to the Comilior
they returned it, concluded, on the 15th of At
following. By this Aft all their Lands and Goo
were forfeited to the Queen, and thofe Pofleffic
within the Bifhoprick of Dz/r^^w were adjudged
her and her Succeflbrs, againft Piiiinton, the Bifho
who laid Claim to all Royalties between the Rive
Tine and Teje. This was done, fays our Authc
in Regard of the vaft Expence the Queen had be<
at in freeing the Biftiop and his Diocefe froin tl
Rebels; but with Provi/o xhn'xt fhould not prej!
dice tTie Right of the Church of Durham for tl
Aiture (b),
April the 28th, a Bill was fent up bv the Coa
mons to the Lords, whereby certain Offences, the
named, were made Treafon. It paffed .th;
Houfe on the 8ih Day of May^ with a new Provifi
and certain Amendments added to it. This A6
fays Cambden^ was cccafioned by the Iniquity of tl
Times, and the Love which the Parliament of E%
land then bore to their Prmce and Country. 'By i
was provided, according to the Tenour of foroi
Laws, ' That if any Man Ihould attempt the Deal
i:
a) Combden in Kennef^ P*4^>
h) Ibidem, p. 436.
^^
0/ E N G I, A N D. s>9
or perfonal Hurt of the Queen ; or raife War, or(jue(j
excite others to War againil her ; if any one
Hoitlci give out, that fte is not the lawful Qiieeii
of this Realm, but that any other can claim a Jull-
cr Title thci eio ; or fhould pronounce her to be
sn Heretic. Schifmaiic, or Infidel ; or {hould u-
furpthe Right and Title of the Kingdom during
her Life ; or fiiould affirm that any other has a
Right to the Crown ; or ihdt the Laws and Sla-
Iksti cannot limit and deiermine the Right of the
Crswn and the Succeffor thereof; every (uch Per-
fonfhall be guilty ot High Treafin. That if any
oiiE, during the Queen's Life, fhouldby any Boole,
written or printed, exprelly maintain, that any
Perfon is or ought to be, the Queen's Heir and
Succeflbr, except the natural IJjue of her Body ;
orlhould publifli, print or difperle, any Books or
Writings to that Effedt, he, and his Abettors, for
^ firft Offence, ihould be imprifoned for a
'hole Year, and forfeit the half of his Goods ;
*ard, if any Ihould ol^nd a fecond Time, he fliould
' incur the Penahy of a Prcniunire ; that is, the
' Lof3 of all his Goods, and lie in perpetual Impri-
' fonment.'
This Aft plainly ftiews the extrcam Jealoufy,
oore than the Iniquity, of the Times ; and that
liere was ihcti fome latent Tille to the Crown,
which they coul(l not fufficienily guard againft.
Our Author writes, thai it was looked upon as too
(evere, by thofe who thought that it would tend to
iheEftablilhment of the- Nation's Quiet, to have an
Heirappareni declared. But adds he, it is incrediblo
*bat jefts were thrown out on thiC PartoftheAfti
' txceft the natural JJfue of her Body. Since the
I Lawyers term thofe Children natural ; whom Na-
; lure alone, without the Intervention of honeft Ma^
, trimony, h4[h begotten. As thofe are called law-
ful v\\\c\\ are born in Wedlock. So that Cambden
biffliclf, being then a young Man, hath often heard
■ — V fay, that this Word was inferred into the Adt
jV^«r, with a Defign, that, one Time or other;
.light impol'e fome Baftard Son of his upon the
Q 2 Engl^
I oo The Tarliiime7itai-ji}\isro9.i
QueenEliiahcib.^"^'^ Nation fot the Qiieen's natural Tffue, A
Ji7i. Jnfinuation oddly dropt from the Pen of one, Vk -fit
has lalien fuch great Pains to drefs his Heroine in th(
brighteft Robes of Virtue and Honour.
About this Time Pope Pms V. had thutidered
m'^^u'"-' ^' "' °'^^ ^" ^^^ Anathemas of the Vatican againft Ellza-
th^QuKn!'" ^"^ i 3nd had the Infolence to publifh a Bull of
Excommunication againft her, which was fixed oo
the Bifhop of London'^ Palace-Gates ff'. This
Arrogance was taken Notice of by Parliament.
Accordingly, we find that a Bill was read a Third
Time, and palled the Houfe of Lords, Jprilih? iift,
with thisTitle, A Bill againfl bringing in and put-
ting in Execution of Bulls, Writings or Inflruments^
ar other juperfiitims Things, from the See of Viome.
Afli afTd ^^ '^ '^^^ enafled, ' That who foe ver, by Bulls or
thawpen. ' Other Rcfcripts of the Pope, fhould reconcile any
• Man lo the Church of Rome, and thofe who
• fhould be fo reconciled, (houM be guilty of High
' Treafin. That whofoever did relieve fuch as did
' fo reconcile Men, or fliould brint; into England
' any Agnus Dei's, Beads, Crucifixes, or other
' Things confecrated by the Pope, fhould incur the
• Penalty of a Premunire. And, that whofoever
' ihould not difcover fuch Reconcilers ftiould be
' guilty of concealing, that is, MiJprifionofTreafon.'
Several Perfons, concerned in the laft Rebellion,
having cfcaped beyond Sea, and others in greater
Numbers having withdrawn themfelves on the
Score of Religion, a Bill was framed againftthetn
in the Houfe of Commons, and fent up to the Lords
on the Firfl: Day o^ May. The next Day this Bilt
agajnft Fugitives, over the Seas, was committed to
the Marquifs of ^■Northampton, the Earls of Hunting'
don, Suffex, Bedford, Pembrch and Leicefter -, the
Y\ko\sr,\%H£refordi.ViA Montague ; the Biftops of
Winchefier, Sarum and Worcefler ; the Lords
Burleigh, ffentworih, Haflings and Bucihurft,
May the igih, the Bill was concluded in that Houfe,
with a new Provifo, and certain Amendments added
to it. The A6t recalled all fuch Fugitives, who had
gotic
[<} Sec ibe Form of the EuJl, at Itnglh, id Cavibdcr, p, 4)7,
0/ E N G L A N D. loi
foneabroad without the Queen's Leave, within aQujtnEKzabeth.
limiiedTime, under Forfeiture of their Ellates. And, 's:'-
ty another Aft, pafled thisSetfion, all Conveyances,
Gifts, Alienations, y^. of their Eftates, were term-
ed fraudulent, and fetafide.
Thefe, and feme more Laws of lefs Slgnifican-
CfiWere framed againft Popery, by this Parliament ;
'DOT were they wanting to reform fome fcandalous
Abufcs which haJ crept into the eftablifhed Pmef-
tot( Church. An Aft was made for correfting
terrain Diforders of the Minifters of the Church.
Another againft Frauds in defeating Remedies for
Dilapidations. Another touching LeafesofL'enefi-
ca and other Ecciefiaftical Livings with Cure.
This lall Aft was made, fays Cambden, to reftrain
the Covetoufnefs of certain Churchmen; who, as if
born for ihemfeU-es .ilone, to the notorious Defraud-
ing of their Succeflbrs, did wafte the Revenues of the
Church, and let out Leafe* for many Years. The
firftmentionedAftfor reforming the Minifters, hath
ihia Tide in the printed Statutes, An Ail far the Mi-
xi/lers of the Church to be of found Religion. Wiiich
was made to reftrain certain puritanical Preachers,
Tho oppofed the Articles concluded on in a Synod
i\ London) in the Year 1562, for abolilhing of
Schifms.
But now, when the Parliament had done with
__ Urinous Matters, it was thought neceflary to take
i fcmeCareof the State. On the Joth of jWaya Bill'^ ^"^^'^1'
= «1th a Grant of two Fifteenths and Tenths, and a
itthfidy, was fent up by the Commons. It was read-
the firft Time, on the next Day, by the Lords, who
palfcd it on the ijlh. It is fomewhat ftiange that
this Supply is not the leaft taken Notice of by Mr.
Cambden. And it is not clear, by him, what it
Could be for, fince the Kingdom was then in pro-
found Peace with its Neighbours ; even Ireland^
Vbich was very troublefome moft Part of this
,, being then in much Subjeftion. However,
cr Co-temporary Hiftorian informs us, that
supply was granted to the Queen, towards the ■
&rcai Charge flic had been at, in repiefling the late
G 3 Re-
!
loi Tfje Parliamentary Hi sroKt
Rebellion, In the Norih; and purfuing the Rebels,
™a,«b«h,^jjj^.,^ weie fled into SiQtlnudU). Great Care was
taten that the Queen (houlJ not be cheaied of
any Part of [his Grant ; for two Bills were pafled
this Patliament ; the one againft Frauds of Tellers,
Receivers, Colleflors andTrcafurers of the piiblick
Money ; ihe oiher, ihat all fucb Lands, Goods,
Chat-Is, t5fr. as any Receiver, Teller, Colledor,
i^c. fliould have at their entring into their Charge,
fhall be liable lo the Payment of their Debts due to
the Crown. The like Adt was made for the Col -
leflors of the SubfJdies granted by the Clergy ;
which at this Time was fix Shillings in the Pound.
Weinuft now goback to trace what was doing this
Parliament in ilie Commons ; in which our Jourtia-
liji is more particular than in any before : but his Ac-
couTit is carefully collated with the tnore authentic,
latepTir.tcd,5''""''<^^-'of the Commons- TheHoufe
having been called over, and iheO.ith of Allegiance
and Supremacy given to each Member, by the Lord
iSleward of the Queen's Houlhold, they proceeded
lo the Eleflion of a Speaker j the Ceremony of
whofe Inveftiture is given before, ^pril the 5th,
the Hcufe was again called ever ; and Tome Mem-
hi;rs were commanded to attend the next Day the
Older of ihe Houfe, becaufe they had entered there
wiihuui being rerurned by the Clerk ofthe Crown.
The fame Day, a Commitlee was named tocon-
fer with the Attorney and Sollicitor Genera!,
about feveral Boroughs, who had returned Mem-
bers in this Parliament, but lent none to the laft.
The yotimalijt obfcrves, on fuch a Cale, in a prior
Parliament, ' Thai it was very common in former
' Times, that if any Borough grew into Poverty,
^ or Decay, to avoid the Charges of their Burgelles
' Allowance, ihey either got a Licence from the
' Crown 10 be dilchargc-d from fuch Eledtion and
'■ Auendance, or did, by Degrees, dilcontinue it
■ ihemfelvLS. But, in later Times, the Ktilghts,
' Citizens and Burgelies of the Houfe of Commons,
' for the molt Part, bcaiing their own Charges,
i many
(d) IMia^lhmd'iCbxoD. p. 1125.
i
0/ E N G L A N D. 103
' many of thofe Borough Towns, which had dif-„ ^,. ,
ainiimica iheir former I'rivilege, by not fending,^- i„,_
' did again begin ii ; which was ihe Cife of leveral
' Towns, both in this and the fuccccding Reign (<;)■'
This is ihe Reatbn why I'o many pitiful Boroughs,
remarkable now for nothing belides, but their
Jtleinnefs and Poverty, retain the fame Privilege I
and have a Power of being reprefented equal to
the Counties and Ciiies, and fuperior to many great
TouTDS in England.
The next Thing that we find the Commons went
Qpon, before ihey meddled with the Secular Laws
of the L.md was to amend the Spiritual ; for, on
ihe very fame Day, asitfeems by ihs 'J ournah/ly a
,lfc)tioi] was made in the Houfe to this Effed :
1; • Mr. Sir.ciknd, a grave and ancient Man, ofj>,i,>teontl;
j(Rat Zeal, (lood up, and made a long Difcourfe, Abufr^ in s
tending to the Rememhrance of God's Goodners,son, sk.
Ei»ing unto us the Light of his Word, together
with the gracious Diipofition of her Majefty, by
whom, as by his Inftrument, God hith wrought fo
peat Things, and blaming our Slacknefs and Care-
lefnefs, in not efteeming and following ihe Time
lad BIcITing offered ; but, ftill as Men not fufficiertly
inftrufled what is Truth, or fo that we think it not
convenient to publiiTi and profefs it openly, and that
ill reproachful Speeches of the Slanderous might be
ftopped, the Drawbacks brought forward, and the
Over-runners, fuchas over-run and exceed the Rule
ofthc Law, leduced to a Certainty, he thought it
OpirU pretium, to be occupied tlierein ; for which
Purpofe he faid, the Profcflbrs of the Gofpel in other
Nutions had writ, and publilhed to theWoild, the
Confeffion of their Faith, as did ihokoi Sirasburgb
ind Frankfsrt, l^c. for which Purpofe alfo great
teamed Men in this Realm had travelled, as Peter
Martyr, Paulus Fagius, and others, whofe Works
hereupon were extant.
' And before this Time an Offer thereof was
made, in Parliament, that it might be approved ; but
either the Slacknefs, or fomewhat elle of fome Men
I') C'fTCtl'C j03II»lii p. So Hid Ijfit
IC4 The Parliamentary Histokt
,j„£i;jj(^,^Jn ihnt Time, was the Lett thereof, or what elfe,
JS71. hefjjd.hewould not fay. This Book, he laiti, reli-
ed in the Cuftody of Mr NsrUn, as he guefied, a
Man neither ill-difpofed to Religion, nor a negligent
Keeper of fuch Matters ofChaigc, and thereupon _
requefted that Mr. Naritin might be requiied to pro- M
duce ihefame ; he added alio, that alter fo many B
Years, as now by God's Providence we had been ^
learning the Purity of God's Truth, we fliould not
permit, for any Caufe of Policy, or olher Pretence,
any Errors in Matters of Do^rine to continue a-
mongft us. And therefore, faid he, although the
Book of Common Prayer is (God be praifed) drawn
very near to the Sincerity of the Truth, yet are there
fomcThings inferted morefuperHiiiou.s, than in fo
high Matters be tolerable i as, namely, in the Ad-
miniftrationof the Sacrament of Baptifm, the iiign of
the CroCs to be made -AJih fome Ceremonies, and
fuch other Errors; all which, he faid, might well
be changed, without Note of chopping or changing
of Religion, whereby the Enemies mightilander us;
it bsing a Reformation not contrariantj but diredtly
purfuant to our Profeffion ; that is, to have all
Things brought to the Purity of the Primitive
Church, and Inftitution of Chrift. He fpake at
large of the Abufes of the Church of England, and
Of the Churchmen ; as firft, that known Papifts are
admitted to have Eccleiiaftical Government, and
great Livings ; that godly, honeft, and learned Pro-
teftanis having little or nothing ; that Boys are dif-
penlcd with to have Spiritual Promotions; that by
Friendlhip with the Mailer of the Faculties, either
unable Men are qualifiej, or fome one Man allowed
to have too many feveral Livings ; finally, he con-
cluded with Petition, that by Authority of the Houfc,
fome convenient Number of them might beaffigned,
to have Conference with the Lords of the Spiritua-
lity, lor Confideration and Reformation of the
Matters by him remenibred.
' Mr. Norton, a Man wife-, bold and eloquent,
ftood op next, and laid, he was not ignorant, but had
(fiDg fince learned what it was to i^A on a fudderij
9f
0/ ENGLAND. 105
orfitft, before Other Men in Parliament. Yet, being Q^^jnEji^^jd,. .-
occafioned by Mr. Strickland, he laiil, that Truth it
was, he had a Boolt tendbg to llie lame Effedi ; but
(quoth he) the Book was not drawn by thofe he
DUned, bat by virtue of the Ait of 1532 (/"), at the
Affignation, or by the Advice of ei^hi Biftiops,
!«gh[ Divines, eight Civilians, and eight Temporal
rlawyers, who having in Charge, to make Ecclcfiai-
^Jol Conftitutions, look in Hand the fdme; which
wadrawnby that learned Man, Doflor/iia'i/fl'/.aiid
pnined by another learned Man Mr. Cheeke; where-
Bpon he taid, that Confideraiionhad been, and fome
Tiivel beftowed by Mr. Foxe of late, and that there
Wis a Book newly printed, to be offered to that
Houfe; which he did, then and there, prefently
few forth. And for the reft of Mr Strickland's
Motions, he was of his Mind, chiefly for the
Woiding and fuppreifing of Simoniacal IngrolT-
inciits.
' Whereupon were appointed for that Purpofe,
ferRedrefe of fundry Deletions in thofe Matters,
flielfi following ; viz. all the Privy - Council being
'Membera ef this Houfe, Sir Henry Nevill, Sir Tho-
mas 'thinnSi Sir Tbsmas Lucy, Sir Henry Gate, the
■Milter of the Requefts ; Mr. Heneage, Mr. Re-
corder ; Mr. Bell, Mr. Htnry Knoltes, fen. Mr.
Maanfin, Mr. Narloa, Mr, Stritkland, Mr. Gadier^
Mt, If^itiam More, and Doftor Berkley.
' The Bill concerning coming 10 the Church,
md receiving the Communion, was read the fecond
Tinje, and thereupon Sir Thomas Smith, (peaking fur
tte Maintenance thereof, argued ; and in Parr
■^IJied the Bifhops to have ConfiJeraiion thereof.
* After whom Mr. jF/cWifW moved, that the Pe-
Bdty of that Statute fbould not go 10 Promoters,
iid faid, it was a Device but of laie brought in, in
lie Time of King Henry the Eighth, the hrft Year
ifhis Reign, and fhewed the Evils and Inconveni-
pces that did grow by thefe Mens Doings j where-
BHO Reformation was fought, but private Gain to
hemoftofMen. He laid alio, that Matter of
going
J
io6 T/je Tarliamentary History
QMenEikabeth. go'ng to the Church, or for the Service of God»
1.571. did direftly appertain to that Court ; and that we all
have as well learned this Leffon, That there is a God,
who is to be fcrved, as to have the Bifhcps. And
thereupon he undertook to prove by the old Law$«
vouched from King Edg'ar^ that the Princcs> in their
Parliaments, have made EcclefiafticalConftitutions:
Asthefe; Thatif any Servant (hall work upon the
Sabbath-Day, by the Commandment of his Mafter,
he (hould be free ; if of himfelf, he (hould be whip-
ped ; if a Freeman (hould work, he {hould be boundi
or gricvoully amerced. Then he concluded upon Re*
queft, that it mighr be commi tted to fome of the Houfey
without the Bifhops, who perhaps would be flow.
* Sir Owen Hopton moved, very orderly, that
the Prefentation of fuch Defaults (hould not only
depend upon the Relation of the Churchwardens,
who being for themoft part fimple, and mean Men,
and fearing to offend, would rather incur Danger of
Perjury, than difpleafe fome of their Neighbours j
he (hewed for Proof, Experience.
* On which Motions, Sir Thomas Smithy Sir
Owen Hopton^ Sir Ihomas Sc$t^ the Mafter of tbe
Requefts; Mr. Serjeant Manwood, Mr Serjcift!
Geoffrey^ Mr Fleetwood and Mr Bandsi weW
appointed a Committee, to meet in the Star-Ch»ril-
ber, at two of the Clock in the Afternoon/
>if/>r/7thc 7th, the Bill concerning Religion #»■
read, and the Journaliji proceeds to tell us, * That
Mr Strickland firll moved, that Mr Norton might b^.
required to deliver fuch Books, as he had. Mr NiUf*
digate moved, that where one of the Caufes for tlif
SubJid"-^^* Calling of the Parliament, and perhaps the chicfiii
^' wasforaSubiidy 5 bethought it !K>t amifs tomab
Offer of a Subfidy before it (hould herequircd^whidl
Speech was not liked of by the Houfe.
* Sir Francis Knolles made a long needlefs DK*
courfe concerning the Subfidy.
* Mr. Bell faid. That a Subfidy was, by cvcrf
good Subjeft, to be yielded unto 5 but for that tbfl
People were galled by two Means, it would hardtj^
be levied ; zyimely, by Licences, and tbe Abufe oi
0/ E N G L A N D. .07
Promolers; for which, if Remedy were provided,
then would theSubli-ly be p.dd willingly ; which he *^"'
proved, for that byLicences a few only were enriched,
andihe Multitude impciverifhed i and added, that if
a Burden (liould be laid on the Back of the Com-
mons, and no Redrefs of the common Evils, ihen
there might happly enfue, that they would lay
down the B'Jrden in the Midft of the Way, and
turn to the contrary of their Duty.
'Mr. i'o/t/iflw affirmed Mr. 5?/rs Speech, and
idded to the former Abules, that of the Treafurers
of the Crown ; who having in their Hands great
Mall*ES of Money, with the which either ihey thctn-
felvcs or fomc of theirs, do purchafe Lands to Eheir
own Ule, and after become Bankrupts, and fo caufe
or praftife an Inftallmcnt of ihcir Debts, as of late
feme one hath inftalled a Debt of thirty thoufand
Pounds : Which occafioned the Lack in the Prin-
ces Co fFers.
'Mr, Serjeant £ow/(;«argued, that every Loyal
Subject ought ro yield to the Relief of the Prince,
md that without any Condition or Limitation j
Hotwithftanding, he did not diflike of the former
Motions ; and ihought it very requifite, that thefe
tnls might be provided for, to the Ends afore fa id ;
onto the which he added thiee Abufes more ; firft,
4e Ahufc of Purveyors, wherein he had to defirc
*e Council, and the Mailers of the Houfliold to
tonrider if, and to be willing to yield to Reforraali-
en ; and, in his Opinion, it (hould not be amifs to
tike away the Purvcyois and to limit every Coun-
try 10 a proportionable Rate ; fo fliould her Majefty
bebeucr ferved, ;!ni the Kingdom eafed. Secondly,
The Reforma.i.;i of the Exchequer, for the Charge
which groweth by Refpite of Homage ; which he
"■iftied might be paid on fome other Sort, in a Sum
Certain. Thirdly, Another Reformation, which is
Upon a great Ahafe in the Exchequer, by fending
out, upon every Fine levied, the Writ ^o tiiuk in-
i^ijfui fji.
' Mr Comptroller, in few Words, faid, that he
being one of the Mafters of the Houlhold, would do
io8 The Tarliamentary HisTORr
Ok« El* b ih '''^ Endeavour for Reformation of all Things arifing
li;" ° ' by the Purveyors.
* Mr. Sampooh, rometimes of Lincohs-Inn, liked
well of the Motion of the Subfidy, and commended
the Motions of the Gentlemen before ; affirming,
that they were very neceflary to be thought of ; un-
to which he was to add one more, &/a. the Abufe of
Colleflors. He (hewed, that they do retain their
Charge fometimesa Year, fometimes more, in their
own Hands. And for that they are but mean Men,
appointed to that Office, they oft times convert it
to their own Ufes, and are perhaps neve; able to fa-
lisfie the fame ; whereby the People are unwilling
to pay ; For, if they fliould underftaiid her Majefty
ihouldhaveit prefently, they would more willingly
pay it ; and therefore wilhed the better Sort of eve-
ry Country ftioufd be affigned to that Charge.
' Mr. Gocdier faid, That every Man ought to.
yield to the Subfidy, and rather offer it than to ftajn'
till it fhouid be demanded ; defiring, that theSubfidy
might be prefently, and only go forward, without thei !
Hearing of any more Complaints: For that ibcp-
might be infinite, and already more were reoientot'
bred, than in one Parliament could be reformctiJ>
Wherein he Ihewed a t;reat Defire he had to will/
Favour. u'
' A Committee was appointed to confider of the
Pioportion and Time of yielding fome Relief unto*' ^
her Majefty ; whofe Names being fet down in the-
original "J Burml-Btisk of the Houfe of Commons^
are thence tranreribed, at large, in Manner and F"oriBr
following : i
' All ihe Privv-Counci! Members of this Houle^ |j
the Marter of the Rolls, Sir 'John White, Sir WMatS
Dormer, Sir Ohrijl'pher Heydcn, Mr. Heneage, Sirr.
Robert Lane, Six Henry Nsrrice, Sir George Blunts
Sir Henry Wefim, Sir George Bowes, Sir miBam'
Pawlet, Mr. Edgecomb, Mr. Edward Stanhep, Mrj
John Merflt, Mr. Robert Newdigate, Mr. Serjeant
Lcvekee, Mr. Sairitpoo!, Mr. Thsma; Snagge, Mr^
Hall,Mr. Haffet, Ux.Gmfior, Mr. Sands, Mr. Al'
furd, Mr. Bafei, Mr. IVdrncmb^ Mr. George For-,
r
0/ E N G L A N D. lop
«rj, Mr. Amje Pawkt, Mr. Hatfield, Mr. Gre'ith- Qukd tinabetfc
/^W, Mr. Bsunton, Mr. BelUngham, to meet in fhe 'i7>.
Star-Chamber, on Monday next, at two of the Clock
in the Afternoon.'
jfyrlltht 9th, A Report w.-is made concerning the
Right of the Burgefles ; and it was ordered, by Con-
fem of the Attorney General, that the Uurgefles
Ml fit according to their Returns ; becaufe the Va- 1
iidity of the Charters of their Towns, ought to be '
examined in another Place.
On the lOth, the Committee was enlarged on
the Religious Bills, in order to go lo a Conference ^'^"^ ^'^
with a feleft Number of Bifhops and Peers. ThcrivcT ^™^
next Day the Bill on fraudulent Gifts and Convey- *
ances, alai Monopolies, was taken into Corfiderali-
cn ; and being ordered to be engrofled, a Debate z-
lofe, in which Mr. Flietwood argued, ' That there
mightappear Raflinefs or Irdilcretion in them, who
ihDuld now reverfe what oflate they had done ; but
Wing to fpeak thereof, he entered into a good Dif-
coutfe of the Prerogative, which might thereby be
touched, if they (hould endeavour lo overthrow her
Majefty's Letters Patents, to whom, by Law,there
is Power given to incorporate any Town, and fhe
isfwom to preferve her Prerogative: He vouched
the Clerk of the Parliimenl's Hook to be, that no
Man might talk of the Statute of Wills, i^c, but
that the King firft gave Licence ; for that his Pre-
rogative in the Wards was hereby touched. He
Iliewed likewife the Statute of Ed. i. Ed.-^. and
Htn. 4. with a Saving of the Prerogative. In King
Edtvardtht Sixth's Time, Licence was fued for to
the Lord Protestor, to talk of Matters of Prerogi-
lire, he rememhred the Book of 2 Ed. 6. for the Par-
fiament o( Ireland, calleJ by the Chief Judge, as is
for him hwful ; where it was queftioned, what by
Parliament might be done? whetherthey might de-
part with any of the King's Towns, Funs or Piers ?
Jt was agreed they might not ; and fo he concluded,
that to talk thereof (for as much as her Majcity's
LettersPatents, and Prerogative were touched) Sege
tisn (onfiiltOf was pctillous. He alfo made mention
of
no The Tar/iamentary Hi ST OKY
QMoiEliMbcth. of the Statute, which authoHzeih all Merchants to
1S7I. ' iraffick by Sea, Nifi publucprokibentur ; he faith, O-
ihers were prohibited,
« Mr.Hiaw^, ofSf//W,in theBehalf oftheCom-
mons, reafoned to this Effeft; Firft, flicwed ihe
Lois 10 the Qufen of Wr Cuftom, ihen the private
Monopoly wrought and occafioned by the Mer-
chauts, the Controverfies which haveenfued by this
Means amotigft ihem, and the fubtile Means where-
by theSotute was procured, without the Confent
of the Maior or Commons, by fuch as were put in
Truft.
' Mr. v^^ar(/raid,Thathe might not Ipeakofthe
Prerogative aptly, for that he was nor learned in
the Law ; but made fome Remembrance of what
he had there feen, concerning the Adt of Parliament
ioT Southampton ; where it appeareth, that without
an Ad of Parliament, her Majelty's Letters Patents
were not fufficicnt ; and therefore he prayed conve-
nient Confideralion might be, and that the fame fif
it ftiould fo fecm good to the HoufeJ might be
conjoined to the former and other Bills, if!c.
' Then fpake Mr. Cleere, Sir Francis Knolles, Sir
Nicholas Arnold, Sir Henry Nerrii, and Mr. Chrifto'
pher Ytlverton, o^ Gray'' '.-Inn, (everally to ihe feid
Bill ; Whofe Speeches being fomewhat imperfeiSly
and uncertainty fet down, are therefore omitted j
although from them, and the Relidue foregoing, the
EfFeft of this Bill may be colleflcd to have been for
the Dillbluiion of certain Companies of Merchants
in Brijiol, whom her Majefty had incorporated by
her Letters Patents, and authorized them to trade
to certain Places, by which it was pretended that
the publickand free Trading of others was reftrain-
ed ; and at laft upon the Motion of Mr. Fleetwosd,
That the Bill being of great Weight, might be fur-
ther con fidered of by the Houfe, and the Cot..mil-
tees be appointed at fome other Time ; it was there-
upon ordered. That they fhould be appointed on the
Uay following, which was done accordingly.'
f^^'^x CT^'g The fame Day was read, but not mentioned in the
wGhuith. ' original Journali, a Bill for coming to the Service of
[
0/ E N G L A N D. m
the Church, which feems to he a Matter of greai QuHnEIitabtth,
'Moment, by the following Debate about it. 'jyi.
' Mr. Snagg (hewed, at large, the Inconvenien-
ces of the o!d Law, for coming to Service : For,
faid he, by the former Law it was enafled, That
the Service fliall not be faid, or Sacraments mini-
ftred, in other Sort than in the IJoolt of Common-
Ptayer is prefcribed ; he (hewed, how differently the
fame was u fed in many Places, fiom (he prefcribed
Eule ; as where no Part of thofe Prayers were ob-
ftrved, but a Sermon, and fome fuch other Prayers
only as the Minifter (hall think good, in Place there-
of: Whereupon have great Divifions, Dilcords and
Didikcs grown amongfl: and beiween great Num-
bers. And lince it is Law, thai in this Sort Service
flial! be ufed, and thac whofoever fhall be at any o-
thcrFotm of Service, (hall incur the Penalty pre-
fcribed, and that the Minifters neither do, nor will
do herein, as they fliould, and as is by the Law pre-
fcribed and commanded. He thought the Proceed-
ings, in this Kind, (hould occifion a Dilemma in
Mifthief: For, by this Law, if he come nor, he
ftil! lofe Twelvepence ; and if he come and be pre-
fent, and the Service be notfaid according to the pre-
frrilDed Rule of the Book, he fhall lofe a hundred
' Marks.
Mr. Jglionhy, Burgefs of the Town ot Warwick^
moved, the Law might be without Exception or
Priviledge for any Gentleman in their private Ora-
tories. This did he prove to he fit out of Plata his
Laws, and Cuero, both prcfcrihing for the Obferva-
tron of the Law an Equality between the Prince
and the poor Man; not giving Scope to the one a- ■
bove the other. Alfo he reniembrej the Authority
of LaElanthu Firmianus^ making this only Differ-
encebetwixt Man and Be.iff, that all Men do know
ind acknowlodge that thtre is a God ; and in this
Refpcdt there fhould be no Difference between
Man and Man. Wuhal, he f;iid, the more noble
the Man, the more Good his Example may do.
JHc theiefore concluded, that for fo much of the
Law
'im T/je 'Parliamentary Histort
QaeenEtiubeth. Law, fo the Tame might be general, he was of gooffl
"atter,^
'ST'- liking ihat it (houldpafa. But, for the other Matter,'
concerning the Receiving of the Communion, he
argued. That it was not conveniEnt lo infoice Con-
fciences. And, to that Purpofe, he fliewed the Au-
thority of Doi^ors ; which he voiithed, without
quoting the Place ot Sentence. He faid alfo, That
It was the Opinion of Fathers, and learned Men
of ibis Land ; and therefore wiflied they migl." be
confuited with. Finally, he concluded, that Bona
Legei } tnaiis moribus proveniunt : But no good Laws
can makes bad Man fit to receive that great My -
ftery of God above. This whole Speech he tem-
pered with fach Difcretion, as in fuch Cafe was
feemly. And whatfoever he fpake, he fpake the
fame under Correftion,
' Mr. Strickland, (landing up, firft prayed he
might be excufed, for that he was to fpeak on a
fudden, and unprovided. For the firft, he approv-
ed what Mr. Ag&onby had faid : For the Second*
he faid, he could not be of that Mind ; and he
vouched, out o( Efdras, that the Church, yea, and
the Conlciences of Men, were, by the Prophet,
reftrained ; iviihal, he faid, Confcience might
be free, but not to diilurb the Common Quiet.
He Ihewed the Praftice and Doings of the People,
the Banifhment of the 4rian!, (^c. That the
Word of the Prince, foi Lack of Law, muft not
be tied. The Ifraelites, he faid, were con-
ftrained to eat the FafTover. And, finally, he conr
eluded, That it was no Straitning of their Confci-
ences, but a Charge or Lofs o. their Goods, if they
could not vouchfafe to be, as they fhould be, good
Men, and true Chrllli.ins.
' Mr. Doiton reafoned to this EfFedt, Thai there
could enfue no Inconvenience by ihofe two Laws,
which were intended to be contrary. His Reafoa
Was, except the Service be according to the Law*
no Man isbound to liay there ; no more than ifhe
be bound to come and hear Service, and there be no
Service, he is to forfeit his Bond.
' Fo|
0/ E N G L A N D. 113
'For Anfwer to Mr. Aglianby, he faid, TheQi,„nEli«titti
iMatttfs of Confcicnce did not concern the Law- ^s?'.
I makers ; neither were they to regard the Error, Cu-
[ rioJil)', orStiffhetkednels of the evil, ignorant, or
I froward Perfons. For be it ihey did proceed order-
l]/ lo the Difcha:^ of their own Confciencea, in
iking tbe Law, let them care for the reft whom it
boveih. He was of Mind ihat Gentlemen Oiould
i. be excepted, for the Caufes aforefaid ; but, he
■fHhed Provifion oiight be made for fuch as be im-
rprifoned, or cannot come for fear of Arrefts. He
I fi(hed atfo, that the Law might h:ive Continuance
I butallthe End of the ne;rt Parliament.'
^il\^& i2th, when the Bill, and the Additions
I toil, tliat certain Offences fliuuld be madeTreafon,
I Wsread, a Deb-ite arofe, in which, Mr. GBudier^
\ with fome Shew of former Care for that Caufe, en-
l [red into the Utterance of a long Speech, and fpake
; to ihis EffLft : Firft, ' He madeafolemn Protefta-
lion of his Sincerity, Truth and Loyalty to her Ma-
.pfty, to the Stale, and to the Houfe. Then hC
ijiewed many lingular and tiue Bledings, which we
Jwfe by her Highiiels's Means, and religioufly pray-
ed for her Prefervation ; bur, his whole Difcourfc
flood upon thefe three Points, What he thought of
the Perfons there aflcmbled ; What he difliked in
the Matter of the iiili propounded ; and why he
did fo.
* Of the Perfons, he faid, he heartily believed the
whole Company in Truth and true Meaninii to have
a Care and hearty Wdlwilhing for her Majefty's
Safety, aiknowjedging and re|.x>ling in her the very
Anchor of our Safety ; but, whether all were with a
fincere Meaning to the State of the Crown, he
knew not i but rather thounht the cle^n contrary :
But yet of the moft and moft honourable he thought
nothing amifs, but fome furely, he faiJ, weredoubly
difpofed, and with a iavour^tile Affcciion bent for
Jome Ipecial Body.
• Yai the SutiiLince of the firft Bill, he faid, he
Was of clear Mind, well-!ik;ng, and approvmg [he
whole Courfe thereof ; except, quoth he, that tlw
Vol. IV. H fame
1 14 The Parliamentary History
QiiMnElliabeth.*^^"'^ be not already, by former Laws provided for j
1571. and hereunto he further added, that if any Mau
Ihould fay. That the Fapiftsdo not err in faying or
fpeaking fo flanderoufly of her Majefty, ihe fame to
be taken alfo as Treafon.- For the Additions which
concerned the firft which did clearly refpe^ the
Time paft, as to make Treafon of a Fault already
committed, which at the Time of the perpetrating
of the fame Offence, was not in the fame Degree ;
it was a Precedent moft perilous, which might occa-
lion fuch and fo great Evils, as eafily might not be
conceived. Of prefent Time, Man's Wifdota
mighcjudge ; future Times Man's Policy may reach
to : But to call again theTimepaft,ortoraife what
is dead in any Kind, Man may not ; nor, in Rea-
fon, is it to be ptefumed. The like, he faid, had
not been feen ; and where he hath read thoufands of
Laws, yet did he never find fuch a Precedent. Aa
Extremity rare, and never praftifed, no not intheie
the greateft Matters of Faiih and Religion, that we
do now fo earnetHy treat of.
* The Enemy to God and our Stale (the Papifis
I man) is moft hateful. Yet is no Man lo hardlf
bent, as to have them puniflicd, much lefs to fuSer
Death, for what is paR. Whether her Majeftj
liath pardoned what is paft, we do not know, and
whether herHighnefs's Pleafure beihat it fhouldbc
talked of, no Man yet hath made a Report. With*
al, it may hapiy occaiion Dlflike between her
Majefty and the Houfe, which were odious and hate*
ful i but doubilefs, he prophefied it would occafioa
Peril, fuch and lu great, that the greateft Speakers
y therein, yea thofe who fhould give them moft and
beft Words, could give no Warranties. Neither i»
it that the Sequel thereof might be warranted for
the R ght of a Crown, which Words may not be
ftrainedor ftraitncd,
* Thus much confidered, and the Prince beii^
herein not as yet .determined, heiherelore adviled,
and more than fo by Words of Vehemency urged
Stay. He farther faid, that the Pennitigof the iirft
Article of Ihe Additions was clouded and involved
with
0/ E N G L A N D. 115
withfecret Underflandiugs, not to be underllood but q^
t>7 fuch as more curioully could, and more cunning-
would, look thereinto than he. For Matters of
Title of the Crown, hefaid, he neither knew any,
" If durft to intermeddle cir take Knowledge of any i
, d concluding, /le r,.id, ihat for Obicurity of the
Senfe, he niuft needs condemn the fame, fince that
Ftritas eft nuda,fimpUx W plana,
' Sir Ihomai Smith, her Majefty's principal Se-
cretary, neither condemning nor apptoving of what
had before been fpoken by Mr. Gusdier, made men-
ifaii, That the Bill might be divided, left the one
In^tbe the Hindrance of the other.
' Mr. Norton, in hisaccuftomed Manner of natu-
ral Eloquence, firft fiiewed that the A0embly
(bould be free of Speech, fo that the fame did not ex-
ceed the Bounds of Loyally; and as in Speech free,
fc ought it alfo to be free of unjuft Slanders, and un-
deferved Reproaches. For fo much as might con-
cern bim, he protefted that he neither thought, nor
meant any other Title than the fole Prefervation of
herMajefty ; and to this End was heand the whole
Houfe fas he fuppofed) fettled and bent ; fhe being
of this Realm, not only in refpefl of our Goods and
Lives the fingular Stay, but for Truth and Religion,
JM of all Chriflendom not Magna, but in all the
World Speciofa. And lince that Confultation is no
ttierihan Canluhare in Commune, he was as well to
" c the Surmife of Ambiguity, as the Slander
of any Doublenefs in him ; the Words, quoth
are plain, theie and no other ; that whatfoevcr
■ n, during the Life of her Majefty, hathorfliall
ne, intend, or go about, the Depoling, (Se.
and their Heirs to be barred of any Title.
And, faiih he, where Ambition hath once en-
.J, fuch is the Nature of the fame, that never it
iibe fatisfied: And-lbe Thirft fora Kingdom is
uetichablc. Withal, incommon Experiencewe
that between two, for a fmall Matter in Suit,
fliali pafs againlt the one, though b/ perfect
,et will he who lofeth never acknowledge
; had ei;her offered, or defended an Injury.
H2 H«
1 16 TheT arliamentary History
QgcenEliubeth. He faid. For worliing of ^rcai Matters, great Time
'S71- js [cqviiied ; and fucli a Mifchief, as lo uverihrow a
Crown, is not in a Day conipafled i and therefore
what hereafter is thought, or meant Co be executed,
is already begun, compailed and devi.'ed. Time
muft thi^rcfore be taken, and therefore in Time, and
at all Times, it is to be prevented.
' Wbereit isfaid, Tiie like hath not been fecn,
and a Miracle made of it, asif there were never for-
mer Precedents ever feen of the like, or erer heard
of before. It is no longer fincc than in Queen Ma-
ry's Time, when to the Parliament it was fuggefled,
that the Congregations in the City of Lonikn af-
frmbled, did life this Kind of Prayer to God, either
to convert her, or confound her. Whereupon it
was enacted. That every Ferfon whofo, and in fuch
Sort, had prayed, or who fo after flioulj pray, ihould
be taken for a Traitor. The Cafe of Bennit Smith
is not fo ftrange, nor fo long fince, but it may be re-
membred ; his Tr;infgreflion was not fuch, nor lb
' to beadjudged at iheTimeof the Offence perpetra-
ted, as it was afterwards ; jetby Auihorityof Par-
liament the Offence precedent was from the old
Nature ahered ; and he, who before at iheTiire of
the Offence, until the making of the Law, was not
to be privileged but by his Clergy, was now by an
Adt maiiealterjby Judgment executed. And fincc
in the C.ife ofa private Man, as was ibis oi Benmt
Smith, luch Confideralion, and luch good DifcretioQ
was ufed, who can imagine it to be odious ? Nay, ■
who is it, that would not the like or greater Care to
be had ofa Prince, and efpecially of fo good and
virtLOus a Prince, as fhe, of whom cur Conference
is now ? But yet we are climgid with partial Af-
fedipn, unfettkd Minds, and Doubienefs. Whe-
ther this Speech now be an Offence to the Houfe,
he earneftly craved the Judgment of the Houfe.
For ihat it might feem by the Genileman's Eatneft-
neis who. fpake, that fomc one his Friends, whom
he was bent Co ferve, would be touched. Where-
upon, ior his own Part, he eft- loons protefted, he
had no certain Refolution vi Uh himfelf of any Title,
but
0/ E N G L A N D. ii'^
biif Was to be fatisfied with theConfert of that Af-QjeenEliiabttli,
ftmhly ; howfoever, adding further, if his Motions tsji-
might (o fort, as they were liked, he offered this Pro-
vifo to be added. That if any fuch Perfor,,who h.td
■mideany fuch Claim, (hall difclaim and renounce
ili Title during her Highnefs's Life, the b'.ne Per-
Ibrt, yi-. to be then reitored to the old Eftate.
* Mr. Comptroller, after feme Declaration of
Grief, perceiving the Matter grow to Heat, as verily
ftegreateft Number of the Houfe were more than
Boved with Mr Goodier'a Speech, and that Men
Wre difpofed to talk a; laige of Matters contruy ot
repugnant lo the Bill, moved that it might be feve-
ftd } becaufe ihe firft Part came in, and was exhibi-
ted to that Houfe by her M.ijefty's learnt^ Council ;
the other was but the Advice of a priv:ite M^n ;
which Advice, though it juftlydeferved Commend.i-
tJDii, yet was it not, in his Fancy, to be joined with
detwhich came in uiher^ort.
' Mr. Sna^^ -irgued to thlsEfFefl, That in mak-
ing of Laws, Plainnefs of Speech Hiould be u("<-d, all
Intrapments to be fhunned and avoided. And here
lie moved, why the Statute of Edw. j. whereby it
B enadted. That all fuch, who fhall endeavour, Com-
paq or imagine the Death of the King, i^c. fhould
be Traitors, fffir. fliouUnotbefaid fufficient, re.ich-
ingasfar, and comprehending as much, as this larteF
Advice. For the Regard of the Time part, he r.iid,
■fce could have no good liking thereof, . nd what was
'fraitifed in Queen Maiy's Time (under Correfli-
on) he took to be no charitable Precedent ; concer-
ning the Authority of the Parliament, he did con-
clude nothing, but faid it was a Prevention,
' Sir Frauds Knolles (hewe.-i, That he could not .
utterly diflike the conjoining of the Additions, fith
that they rife all of one Ground, and that they both
are good and charitable ; whereof he acknowledged
her Highnefs to have InteiligL-nce, and the Caufc
already to have been in Conference by her Counfel.
And for the Word {bath) he faith it contained no
fuch Abfurdity, but with good /eai it might be
maintained. And therefore fuch VeheUiency and
H 3 Sharp-
1 18 7he Parliamentary History
QwBnEliHbet!i.^'^^''f"^'^5°f Speech, he faid, was more than requi-
' ■ IS7'' Jits, yea more than convenient. And as for the
Obfcurity, he faid, of Men that would mean well,
it could rot be mifconftriied ; and to ftay or pre-
vent Devices paft, he thought it but honeft Pohcy,*
which being oiherwife uled in a Prince's Cafe, is not
tobediiliked. He remembred her Highnefs's Un-
willingnefs to punifli fuch Offences, and therefore
though the Law be fharp, yet fuch is her Mildnefs,
that if any have offended for fo much as maycon-
cernher Perfon, furely he thought it would not be
executed ; and her Clemency tempered with Au-
thority could never grow to Cruelty, wherein what
hisConfcience was, he thought not fit to make fur-
ther Shew thereof ; but fimply and plainly he would
deal herein, not meaning to treat in fuch Sortvas
if he thought to deferve Thanks, or any Thing of
her Majefty ; for what he did, he did it alio as mind-
ful of his own Safety.
' Another fpake (whofe Name is not exprefled
in the aforefaid anonymous JournalJ ftiewing the
Weight of the Matter, which was then in Hand,
to rell as well on the general Safety of the Subjc<fl,
as on the Prefervation of her Majefty's Perfon; and
therefore he could not but approve the Effe£t of the
whole, both in Bill and Addition ; albeit for the
Pains in the Bill he was Ibmewhat variant from that
which was there offered, aivl in- the Underftanding
of fome Words he was doubtful ; as for the Word
Cutnpajfing-, he made fome Quellion ; of this, A?!^/^
Hurt, he had no perfefl ]iiteI1ig,ence, fince the Hurt
of Body may grow by Grief of Mind, and Grief of
Mind perhaps by fmall Caufe. He alfo laid, that
faving in the Statuie of 27 H. 8. he hath nor read
It. But further, he faid, thai he that would not al-
low her for Jawful Queen, in his Conceit, {houM
alfo be called a Traitor j but for the Ipeakingof
thofe moft Handerous Words of Heretick, Infidel,
Schifmatic, he would not any Man to be for the
fitft Offence lakcn as a Traitor; for that the not
acknowle.^gingofthe Supremacy, being a far greater
Offence, isbut thePain of f r^wunjr^. And there-
^ " fore.
ENGLAND. 119
fore, exc^t the fame Offence alfo might be madegujt,
Treafon. he could not like thereof. Butif iiiliould i
Ibfem to them good, ihac it (hould be as he indeed
wifiied, then was he well pleafed to putlhem both
Id one Predicament. ^:
' And for the Word Hereth, he (aid, that the
Papills all, of Force muft be forced to fay. Her Ma-
jeftyisone ; or that they themrelv:s muft be con-
ient to carry the Name, and to be noted Nomine^ as
they are Re et Veritate Heretics, which Name ihey
willingly will not bear. He further laid, that with
tie reft of thofc Words of Slander, he thcuglit it
(night do well to infert the Name Papifi. That if
m; Man ihould fay her Majcfty to bean Infidel,
P'pift, or Heretic, i^c. to bs a Traytor ; for that
hmefay, there are in thefe Days that do not Tpare
to fay. Her M.ijefty is of another Religion than is
publihed J that it is ihe fole Doing of the Counfel-
ion, whereby, the Doflritie (in Sort as it hj is thus
publiflied, and not her's. He alfo added, that hia
ffifli-was, thai no Man mighr be attainted of thefe
Words, except ihe Speech or Publication might be
teftified by two Witnefles. For the Additions, he
ftid, AiTurcdly they might not be fevered from the
Gift Bill, not only as they are Matters materially de-
pending on the firft, but ftretching fo far to the
Maintenance of the firft, that without them the firft
may feem to be nothing. For, faid he, there can be
no Remedy provided, except the Caufe of the Grief
be blown, and the fame Catife removed ; where-
in the Rebels of the North gave clear Experiment :
For doubtlefs, when they pretended Reformation of
Religion, they thought to rend up the Ground, anii
fobvert the Stay thereof, which was her Majefty's
Perlbn j and by them he wiflied us to learn at laft,
and to wax wifer. He faid, the Court of Chancery
will ftraitly decree for faving and quiet keeping of a
ttaiet PoffeHion, often looking to ordering Things
before paft, and fliall not the Court of Parliament
io '""• Hke for the Title of the Crown ? And the
ancient Laws of the Realm (hefaid) do maintain the
fame, as long before the 35 i^ 8 the Stat. 5 £, 3.
lao The 'Parliamentary History
J, jn fuch like Cafes hath ordained, that the Heir of the
Father's Offence (hall be punifhed j totijult hcum
citctum.
' Mr. Meunfin faid. It were horrible to fay, that
'the Parliament hath no Authority to determine of
the Crown ; for then would enlue, not only the an-
nihilating of the Statute 35 H. 8. hut that the Sta-
tute made in the firlt Year of her Majefty's Reign,
of Recc^nition, fhould alfo be laid void ; a Matter
containing a greaier Coniequence than is convenient r
tobeuUered,
' Mr. He'!e(ig€ moved the Houfe to this Effet^, ..^
that either the Bill for Addition fhould be fevered,^™
or both to be referred to the Q^jeen's learned Coun —
fel, to conliiier of the Conveniency thereof ; ant^
then by them to be exhibited, £?V- but of his Opim —
on he yielded no further Reafgn.
* Mr. Long, a young Gentleman, would hav^s
proved the Word l^have) and a Regard of the Tim^^
paft, not to be amift, for that at the Time of ih^
Offence the Malice of the Offender was as great as
it is at this prefent.
' Mr. Fieetivsod endesvci]red to prove the over-
charging Of the Bill wiih larger Words than were
convenient, and more Provilbes than were to the
Purpofe, to have been the Overthrow of that which
was truly meant ; wherein the cunning Adverfary,
■when he kiiowcth not how lo fubvert direiftly, will
by this Mejtis ealily and fubtilly infert more, pre-
tending a Face of more Forwardnefs than the reil,
when indeed his Heart is bent 10 the Hindrance of
ihewhiile. For Proof and Experience hereof, he
remembred the cunning Prelates in Henry the
Fourth's Time, and afterxvards in Edzvard the
Fourth's Time, when King Edward required the
SupprLfling of all fiich Abbies, as King H. 6. had
erefted. To hinder this, contrary to the King's
Meaning, feme would reeds add the Colleges in
Cambridge which by him were alfo founded ; to
which, whci; by no Means the Houle could be in-
duced,as velhhelntentof the firfl, as of the lalt,
^as fuhvcrttd.
i The
r
Of ENGLAND. iii
' The like he remembred alio of the fetondOa"'
Year of of H, 7. in matter of Treafon, which all
Men would have yielded unto ; the counierfeit
Piiend heaped in, to give the King free Liberty of
" KeHitutioTi to whom he would, of all, both Goods
and Pofleflions, whereof the Inconveniency being
ften, Stay wm made of the whole. So chat, what
Meo may not do direfljy, with Face of further
friendfliip they do covertly. He concluded there-
fore, it were well, and moft fafc, to make two Bills,
ind to be referred to the Queen's learned Counlcl,
A Mr. Htniagt had well divided.
* Mr. Serjeant Manu-ood, firft anfwering the
Meaning of the Words [bodily Hurt) faid, It muft
lie intended when Violence and Force is done or of-
.fered to the Body, and not otherwife, or clfewherc,
'And whether the Words of Slander fhouM be Trca-
4bn, he thought that there was great Reafon they
Ihould be ; for ('quoth he) who fo flial! affirm her
flighiieJs to be an Heretic, doth doubtlefs wifh her
de Pains of an Heretic, viz. to be burnt, iSc. He
fiirther would have to be added to thcfe Words of
the Bill, That whofoevcr fhall affirm himfelf to have
Title, (^c. to be a Traitor. He was of further O-
E'tiion, that it thould be no Clogging to the Bill, to
ive Matter of the ftme Nature added ; being alio
[urovided for the fame Purpofe, as good, conlequent*
jHid neceflarily concurring with the Effeft of the
to. And for the Authority of the Parliament, he
feid, It could not, in reafonable Conftruflion, be o-
'lerwile, for whofo ftiouM deny that Authority,
ith deny the Qiiecn to be Queen, and the Realm
be a Realm.
* After whiji, Mr. Alford ir\A Mr. DaltonfpikG
'(rally to the Cild Bill, touching certain Offences,
be pidde Treafons. Whofe Speeches containing
inew Matter at all in them, more than hath been
rmerly ("poken, are omitted in that often-before-
ed cnenynms Jsurntil, out of which all ihefe forc-
ing Speeches are tranfcribed. After all which,
; Biifinefs was at length brought to this Head,
to be referred to a Committee.
* AU
Ill The ^Parliamentary H1ST0R.T
^tseenBiwlieib, ' All the Privy Counci! being Members ofthii
H7»- Houfe, Sir Chrippher Hcyden^ Sir Hcmy Nevill,
Sir Nicholas Jfrnold, Mr. Serjeant Mdnwoody Mr.
Serjeant Jenffry, Mr. Heneage, Mr. Steaks, Mr.
John yaughan, Mr. Bell, Mr. MouvTm, Mr. /*ii^-
, Aom, Mr. NortQti, Mi. Dalton, Mr. Fleelwoadt Mr,
KjWriuH, Mr. Gsodkr, Mr. A ford and Mr. Lung,
Were appointed to meet in ttie S[..r Chamber.'
^nV i3rh, tlie Biil [or fupprifTing ol Simony in
£th"sV«r''''''^'^''"'^"""^^° B-.ncfices was read the firft Time,
pngof Simu'liy j on which Mr S/iOgg obkiveif 'That theCaufcof
the Slanders, whiih the Paplfts have agaiiift the
Church of England, iu that they fny Co; k r^, Tay-
lois, Tinkers, Millers, i^(. are o( ihe Miniftry,
groweth hereby, that the Liviugs are detained by
the Patrons froni the SpirituLil, in tl^eir o» n H ^ndS,
to their own private Ufts; wheieas the lirlt Origi-
nal of the Creation of Pdironagts being confideied,
it appeareth that nothing is leit to the Patron of
Right. The Manner i>f iheir Original he fliewft4
at large, and rhat the iume was gr.tnied Deo et Ecv
ctef.a ; and concluded thai the Patron had nothing of
Worth or Value, but a b^re No,-nination, ifitt^
truly ufed j (ince that, dealing fiiicerely, he is neither
to refpea Commodity, Bl^.d, AtJ\aio.-,,Frien4-
(hip,norany thing elie, bat the Worth and Suffici-
ency of the Man, fsV.'
The lame Day '.he Bill againft Vagabonds was.
Anncher reij'ing rend a firft Time, ind, tho' not utual in fuch Cafes,
to Vapbonda. Jivers Spiiechts eniued, of which this is an Abftradt j
* Mr. Ht. 7o(^/j moved, that an old Bill, before
th^s Time exlubitcd into the Lower Houfe, con-
cerning this M^tfer, might be perufed.
i ■ ' Mr. So'idys endeavou.ed to prove this Law foi;
Ee^g^rs, to be over ih rp and bloody, ftanding
niui h on 'he Care which is to be had for the Poor ;
fiiying. That it mighi be poflible wijh fome Travail
had by the JiiHices, to relieve every Man at his own
Houfe, anJ to ilay them from wandering. This
Evp-riencf iie Ihevi'ed, and what was done in the
pc^niy of fVcmJier. Mr. Tr.^afijrff laljied ti\
' ;.iK • i^
ENGLAND. 113
this Effedt, That he would have a Bridewell in c- Q.ofen EiUibetb.
very Town, and every Tipler in the County to 'iT-
yield twelve Pence yearly to the Maintenance
thereof-
* Mr. TVilfitr, a Mafter of the Bequefts, argued,
thus, That Poor of oeceflity we muft have, for fo
Chrift haih faid, until his fecond Coming : And, as
tme it is, faid he alfo. That Beggars, by God's
Word, might not be amongft his People: Ne /it
MittdicUs htier vos. His Experience he (hc^ed
through the greateftPart of Chriftcndom, conclu-
ding, that fuch Loofenels and Lewdnels was no
where as here: He faid. It was no Charity to gjve
fuch a one as we know not, being a Stranger unto
us. Thus, faid he, did the Lecrfnfes conftitutc hy
their Laws, Even as of Thieves did the Grecians
judge of them. To the Pain of the Conflables for
their remifs Dealings, he wiflied might be conjoined
Imprifonment.'
On the 14th, the Bill for Reformation of the Book Debate on aBiil
ofCommon Prayer was read a firll Time, w'hichfi'f"*'™''"^'''"
occafioned another Debate : Comm™Pr.y«.
* Mr. Treafurer of her Majefty's Houfliold
fcafoned lo this EfFefl, That if the Matters menti-
oned to be reformed were Heretical, then verily
they were prefently lo be condemned ; but if they
are but Matters of Ceremony, then it behovelh us
totefer thefameto her Majeliy, who halh Autho-
rit)', as Chief of ihe Church, to deal herein. And
I'or us to meddle with Maitersofher Prerogative,
quoth he, it were not expedient. Wi;ha!, he faid,
what Caufe there mighi bt lo m. ke her Majefty not
to run and join with tliofe who f^em to be moft
cirneft, we are not lo fearch ^whtthcrit be, for
that in Time and Order (he hopeth to bring them
with her, or what oiher fecret C;iufe or Scruple
there might be in the Heart of Princes, it is not for all
People to know.
' ' Mr. CumptroIlerarzuM tothis KfFeia,a8afore,
CoQimending the Zeal, but that the Place and Time
124 77je'Parliameatary HisrofLT
♦irenEiiijbrth. were not fit. And iince we acknowledge her to be
'i7i. Supream Head, we are not in Ihefe petty Matters to
run before the Ball, which to do, and therein to
offend, were great Folly i how forwarned we were
herein, he did then refer to our Con fide ration, infi-
nuaiing in fome fort, that our hea'ly and hafVy Pro-
ceedings, contrary 10 and before the Law, did rather
hinder than help,
' Hereupon Mr. i'y?ijr, with a grave and feemly
Countenance, and good iiaiuial tlt-quence, {hewed
how Confcienceentorced him to (peak i and rather .
to hazard hi^ CreJii than to the Offence of his Con-
fcience he filent. Albeit he w.,uld acknowledge
willingly, tliai inany HunJieds of that honourable
and worfhipful Afiembly, were able to teach him,
and he indeed willing to Ic^rn of ihem all. The
Matter of his Grief was, lliai Matter? of Impor-
tance ftanding us upon for our tiouls, ftretching high-
er ?jid further to evtry ont' of us than the Monar-
chy of the whole World, were either not treated of,
or fo llenderly, that now alter more than ten Dayt
, continual Confultation, no'iiing was thereon con-
cluded. This Caufe he fhe>'. ed to be God's, the reft
are all bjt terrene, yea Trifles in Comparilon ; call
you ihcm nevei fo great, .t pretend you, that they
import never lb much ; Sublidits, Crowns, King-
doms, he knew nor, he laid. What they were in
Comiiarifon of thisi this, he faid, I know, whereof
he moft [hanked God, pritnum quarhe Regnum De'iy
y ceetcra omnia adjiiienturvebh. This Rule is the
Direflion, and this Defire fliall bring us to the
Light, whereupon we may flay, and then proceed
unto the reft ; for in his Word, and by him wc
learn, as laiih St. Pauly to corrett, reform, i^c.
Our true Home certainly is not here, Nan hobemus
hk pel m.inentem Civliatem : And the JufticeofGod
moved Terror unto all, which he feemed to rnean
concerning the Bill before- mentioned of StrUklan<fs
Prop.ifitioni And fo did let it forth with Vehe-
jnency, that there lacked no Modefty ; and with fijch
Eloquence, that it neither feemed lludied, nor too
muck
_0/ E N G L A N D. 115
(jnuch affcfted, but grave and learned througboai,qujgaElii»b.tk.
and no whit too long, but very well approved of. 1571.
. ' And after him Mr. Sfw^^, and far after nimin-
afccd, either for Order, Proof, or Matter, he entered
into the Difcourfe ol Sirkkiand's Articles, and fecm-
ed to maintain them i this namely, not to kneel at
!he receiving of the Communion, but rather, if a
Law hereof fhould be made, to he proftrate, to (hun '
the old Superftition ; or otherwile to fei every Man
at Liberty, and in this Behalf todo according to his
Confciencc and Devotion, he judged it to be no-
thing derogatory or contrary to the Prerogative ;
ind the Diredion, he thought fino be left out of the
Boole, which fhould beal^w, fs".
,' ' After which Arguments, it was, upon the Que-
j ftioc, agreed. That ii Petilion (huuld be m^ide by
[his Houfe unto the Q|,ieen's Majcfty. for her Li-
cence and Privity to proceed in ihii Bill, before it be
any further dealt in,'
' The fame Day ilie Bill againft Licences and '
Difpenfations, granted by the Archbifhop of Cun-j^i^ft J^^^ct,^
Urbiiry, was put to the Qiieftion, Whether il c. by the Abpt
fhould be read or no ? Il was over-ruled in the .Cmiwbuty.
Affirmative, and had [hereupon its firft Reading.
After which, Mr. ^^^rif (alihuugh a Bill be notufu-
ally fpoken unto till after the fecond ReaJmg) fpake
againft the Bill ; and endeavoured to piove, that Li-
cences for Marriages in fome Cafes might be need-
fiil, and that Difpenfations alfo for Non-refidcnce
might, upon fome Occalioii, be of great Neceflity ;
M if aMinirter fhould be employed upon fome Fo-
reign AmbalTage, or other Matter of great Weight.
' Mr Yelverton much difliked, as ic fhould fcem,
Jklr. j^^ri^'s Speech i and fp.ikc very vehemently in
Maintenance of the BjH, alleJging, that, as he
thought, no good Chriftian culd be -igainft it ; in
lefpcdlthat by the very Wordiufthe Bill it appears,
that it was only framed for the SupptelTiiin of fuch
Licences and Difptnfaiions, as were contrary to the
Word of God,
' Mr. Dallon fpake next, againft the Bill ; and
grounded his Opinion onl)' upon ['.:is vain Suppo-
fiti^n.
ia6 The Parliamentary HisToitr
iiEBMbeth-filion", That a Bifhop can do nothing contrary to
»7S'- the Word of God.
' Mr. Beadle fpake next, in Maintenance of the
Bill I but the Subftance of his Speech is fo briefly and
imperfedtiy fet down, as it cannot be gathered what
bis Reafons were,
' Mr. Mdmuomi fpake very judicioufly and mo-
derately, allowing Wei! the Scope and Meaning
of the Law ; but wilhed, thatin refpedl it mentioneth
the Redrefs of many Grievances* thofe fame Griev-
ances might firft be particularly made known to the
Houfe, before the Bill were any farther proceed-
ed in.
' Mr. f/f^(MJw<i approved the Bill, yet fpake rot
direflly for it ; but very covertly guirded at the Ec-
clcfiaftical Judges, and ihe Office of Faculties j
flicwing alio in the Conclufion of his Speech, that
Livings are given to Minifters for the in(tru£ling the
King and his People, and for the Keeping of Houfe,
and other Deeds of Charity. All which, if they
' . were abient by Difpenfation, he inferred jnuft of Ne-
ceflity be neglected.
' Serjeant Lovilace laftly, as it (hould feem, con*
eluded further Speech in this Bufinefs, (hewing the
Ufe and Commodity of this Bill in Queftion ; but
doubled that there was not Power enough given
therein, nor fufficicnt Remedy provided for Red.-eA
of the Mifchiefs thereby fuppoled to grow, by reafon
oi the granting the aforcfaid Licence and Difpenfati-
ons. Upon which, it fhould feem, that fome Mem-
bers of the Houfe were appointed to confidei of the
faid Bill, but their Names are not found in the ori-
ginal Jcurnal-Book of the Houfe of Commons, er
in that before-ciied anenymcus Joarnal, out of which
both the preceeding and cnfuing Seechesare tran-
fcribed.
' Mr- Norton made a Moiion by warrant of this
Court, by iheWiidom and godly Care which in
Matters of Weight was lo be emjiloycd. That to a*
void the fhameful and moft hateful Ufage amongft
the Ecclefiaftical Judges, for delivering of Clerks
convict upon their Oaihs, and the manifeft Perjury
there
0/ ENGLAND. 127
there, hy their Law againft the Law, committed, QnrenEii„[^(h;
fome Order might be taken He proved it might 1571,
not be faid a Lilieny of the Chuich, excent they
will claim a Liberty to Sin-, wheiein iinJeed their
I«incipal Liberty hath flood, and for the which ihey
have not fpared to haz.ird. nay to give, both their
Bodies and Suuls to become Traitors to God and
Man.
' Thus did that Rebel Bilhop Becket, Whofe prin-
cipal Quarrel and chief Caufeofall his Stir, was, that
the King would have pumfhed one of his Mark, a
Prieft, foran abominable Inceft commiued by him:
Which trifling Fault (forfooth) this holy Saint
could not eiidute to be rebuked of by a Temporal
Judge. Ethinc ilia Ira. He (hewed, it ci,uld not
be termed a Privilege, and Encouragement to Learn-
ing, lince it was no other but a Clo:ik for their
Naughtincfs, and for fuch as might be of the Pope's
Sed. As well appeared, in that it was allowed to
none but to luch as might enter iheir Holy Ordera*
" and not to one that had two Wives. He fhewed
at large the Ciicumftance of their pradi'ed Order
upon the Purgition of fuch Clerks, declaring of
Truth fodifordered and haieful Doings, that the
whole Houfe refolved to take Cire for Redrefs.
• There was then next after, by the Policy ofSir
Humphrey Gilbert, a Motion made by one to have x",fi!JSr«."!
in Talk the Grie's which before had been uttered in '
the Hoafe, concerning the deceiiful Dealings of
Treafurers and Receivers, the Refurmaiion of the
Exchequer lor Homage, £sV. and for the granting of
Licences by the Queen, coniiary to the Form of
fundry Statutes,
' Hereupon Sir Humphrey Gilbert ftanding up,
and fome IntrodUdfion made to cr^ve Puti^nce and
Toleration of the Houfe, he endeavoured to prove '
Ihe Motion of Mr. Bell, made funic D.iys before,
to be a vain Device to be ihought of, and pcrillous
to be treated of i lince it tended to the Derog^uion
of the Prerogative Imperial; which, who fhouid
attempt in his Fancy, could not oiherwiie he ac-
counted than an open Enemy. For what Differ-
cine
iiS The 'Parl'tamentary HisTort.
HE««Elicabcih.ence is to fay, ihc Queen is not to ufe the Privii^
1571. of the Crown, and to fay flie is not Queen ; fince
they are fo linlced it^ether, that the one without the
oiter may not pofliWy be,ov liabfift ? We are, faid
he, to give to a common Conitable the Right and
Regard of his Office ; which if we fhould deny her,
what is it other than to make her meaner ihan the ^
meaneft ? And albeit Experience haih (hewed fuch.*
and lo great Clemency in her Majefty, as might
make us perhaps torfeit ouifelves ; yet it is not good'
10 fport or venturi; too much with Princes} yea«
let be that our Meaning be good, yet if it be not fo
' thought of, how then ? He remembred the Fable
of the Hare, which fled upon the Proclamation, that
all horned Beads fliouid depart the Court, left his
Ears (hould be faid to be Horns. This did he further
inculcate, with this further Signification, that if we
fhould in any Sort meddle wiih thofe Matters, her
Majefty might look to her own Power ; and thereby
finding her Validity to fupprefs the Strength of the
challenged Liberty, and to challenge and ufe het
Power any Way, to do as did Lewis of Frame, who*
as he termed it, delivered the Crown there out of
Wardfliip, which the faid Ee/id King did upon like
Occafion. He alfo faid, that other Kings had abfo-
Ime Power, as Denmark and Portugal ; where as
the Crown became more free, fo are all the SubjeifU
thereby the rather made Slaves.
' This Speech was difliked, as implying many
Occalions of Mifchief ; but for the prefent he watf
not anfwertd further, than that it feemedhedid raif-
take the Meaning ol the Houle, and of the Gentle-
man that made the Motion ; who would it not other-
wife to he liiken, or otherwile for the Houfe to deal
in the Matter, than to fhew their common Griefs in
due and feemly Sort unto her Majefty.
' The Parliamcntwas then by the Confent of the
Houfe, for that it was Edjiei- Eie, adjourned until
Ihnrfdayatxi; and it was agreed, that they fhoukl
from ihenceforih come to the Houfe at fevcn of the,
Clock in the Morning. During which faid Time
pf Eajlir^yit. StrUkiani, fo often before mentioned,
for
0/ E N G L A N D. up
for ihe Exhibiting the Bill for Reformation of Cere- Qaten Eiiiateth,
mooifE, and his Spe^'ch theieupon, was called before 1571.
Ihe Lords of the Privy Council ; and required to at-
tend upon them, and to make Stay from coming lo
the Houfe in ihe mean Seafon.
' On Thurfday, ihe igth Day of April, to which
Day the Houfe of Commons had been, on Saturday
ihe 14th Day of ihis Inftant yfprjl foregoinft, ad-
journed ; the Bill for the reftraining of Kentijb
ind ^ujfix Cloths m be fold at the Fairs at Maidjlon,
Was read the liiftTime-
' The Bill for the Validity of BurgefTes not refi-
anl, was read the fecond Time ; upon which enfued
ilivEr5 Arguments,
' The firft Man that fpoke effeflually to this Bill, OeUte on » Bill
WisMr. Warnecambe of Hereford; who (landing relating to the
up, faid to this Effea, That it behoveth all thofe ^^J^'''')' °f?"" '
which were Burgcfles, to fee to that Bill ; for^B^"="«»"fi""'
Soth he, this may touch and over-reach tlieir whole
liertiesjasnot having whereunto to ftay ; but that
Lwdj Letters fhal! from henct forth bear all the
Sway : And to this ESecl was all that he faid.
' Mr. Norton firil made Explanation of the Mcan-
ingof the Bill, to be (he (aid) to fliame the Imper-
fection (jf Choice, which is too often feen, by fend-
Jngof unfit Men ; and left happly any Thingmight
heobjefled to the Imperfeftion of the Parliament,
which may feem to be fcani fufficieni by reafon of
the Choice made by Boroughs, for the moft Part of
iiirangers. f Wherea'^by the polJtivc Law, no Man
ought to be chofen Burgefs for any Borough, but
only Rcfiants and Inhabitants.^ He faid further,
that the Choice fliould be of fuch as were able, and
fit for fo great a Place and Employment, without
Refpedof Privilege of Place or Degree; for that,
by reafon of his being aBurgefa, it might not be in-
tended or thought he was any tbin^ the wil'er ;
withal, he aigued, that the whole Body of tha
Realm, and the good Service of the fame, was ra-
ther to he refpedted, than the private Regatd of
Place, Privilege, or Degree of any Petfon.
. Vol, IV. I ' Then
130 The Parliamentary Histort
Bnliitibeth. ' Thcn Mr. Speaker moved the Opinion ofihe
•S71- Houfe, whether they could like the Bill fliould be
ingrofled ? umi coming to the Qucftion, fomefaid,
No} but the greaieft Number feemed to fay. Yea.
' Whereupon one Handing up, whofe Name is
not exprelled, Taid thus. 1 run wholly with the
Pretence of the Bill, that Boroughs decayed
may be eafed or relieved, knowing nflliredly the
fame honourable for the Realm, and in many Re-
fpedts profitable and commodious to thofe who do
inhabit the Countries adjacent to fuch decayed
Towns i that it is ib, I will not ftand to perfuade.
How far this Law may help them I know not; if
they be decayed, then it is moft lit for them, that of
then own Company there may be Ibme, who feel-
ing the Smart, can beft make Relation of their E-
ftaie ; and knowing the Country, may devife and
advife of mch Helps, as without the Huns
of other Places may reftore the old Ruins. All
Things are in Cliange, and nothing fo fuppreiled,
but by God's Grace the fame may in Time by
Policy be raifcd up. But, to open my Meaning
fliortly, the Queftion is. What Sort of Men are to
come to this Ccurt, and public Confuhaiion in Par-
liament ? Whether from every Quarter, Country,
and Town, there ihould come (as I might fay)
Home-Dwellers, or otherwife Men c ho fen by Di-
reftions, it forccth not whom ? I am furely of
Mind, that neither fur the good Service of her Ma-
jefty, Safely of our Country, or Handing with the
Liberty, which of Righr we may challenge (being
born Subjefls wiihin the ReatmJ this Scope is to
be given ; or fuch Loofenefs in Choice to be permit-
ted. That the whole Land of this Realm, we
know, is to be for three Purpofes employed, and
thereby three Sorts of Men are, as it were, created.
The one Part given in Frmih Almsigni, or for Di-
vine Service to be ufed, to the Glory of Gd'dand
Miniftry of his Word.
' The fecond Part to be holden for Defence a-
gainftour Enemies, by the Sword,
? Tht
0/ E N G L A N D. 13*
' The Third for Maintenance of our Livelihood Queen BiUaiccii.
»i Homci and for neceflary Employments here. 'S?'*
Ofihefe ibree Grounds, ill the iirft Divilion there
groweth, toourKnowledge, three Sorts of MeniThe
Minifters and Teachers of the Gofpel, of whom we
muft have Care, and with whom, in making of
Laws we mull conferri if we will be Chriftians.
The fecond are the Nobility, Knights and Soldiers,
Ihe Defenders and ForirefTes againft our Enemies.
The third Sort be the Providers, Devifors, and Exe-
cutors of all Things neceflary, commodious or feem-
ly for a fettled Eftate (which haih the Happinefs tcf
live there where are Pnx et JvJSuia) fpr Ih-
creafe of our Wealths, Suftenance of our Laws,
ibe Governing of Bodies, or what elfe foever is ne-
ceflary for us : Such are the Counfellors, fuch are
the Judges and Miniftcrs of the Laws^ fuch be the
Tillers of the Earth, fuch be Merchants, fuch be
Viftuallers, and in this Degree be ihofe, who do
ufe manual and mechanical Arts. Of all thefe. In
like fort, as of ihc others. Regard, Care and Refpeft
mull be had ; they throughly confulted with, the ge-
neral and paiticular States are by them to be knowni
if we mean to proceed for the public Weal, or en-
deavour in the fame a true Perfeflion. Thefe !aft
Son making one Kind are moll amplei and iheretoi
mcll effedlual to be dealt with, as yielding to the reft
fupplimentum, confilium ct auxilium.
' ThcfecondSortislikewife moll neCiidary to be
thought of.. The firll are bed, and firll to be fol-
lowed ; but thofe are all to be in one Knot con-
jnned, and as Members of one Body in one to be
ufed. We may, in regard of Religion, lie in the
Dike (as the Proverb is) long enough without our
own Aid, if we do nothing but pray for the Help of
Uircules. Wemay nottruftonlyto the Sword, left
the common known Saying of C/rfrofhould turn to
our Shaire : Parva funl fsris arma, nifi eenfilium
imi. Neither our Preaching nor our Praying to
God are only fufficicnt, but withall we muft do ouc
Endeavours, and help each other ; fince for the
iiring away of a Dog there is fas the Ceuntry-man
i Z faith)
iji The.Tarliamentary History
QM*aEliwib«th.f^''*li) fome Viriuc in a Stone, if it be conjoined
JJ7I. wilhSt. 7*&«'s t^olpel ; I mean, ihat every Pjic of
the Body fhould do his own Part to the Aid of the
other ; and (he Hand 10 help the Hand, ihe Foot
to help ihe Foot, Ijfc. This haih moved our F~ ore-
fathers, ;'.nd on this Ground haih it grown, that in
this Court where we are toconlider of all, and (as
Occafionmay lerve) toalier, conflirute, or reform
allThinsrs. as Cau/e (hall be, chat we do know all
Sorts of Men, fo f;ir as rnay be to help all. How
may .her Majefty, or how may [his Court know the
Eftate of her Frontiers, or who fliall make Report
tf the Ports, or h:)W every Quarter, Shire or Coun-
try is in State ? We who never have feen Berwui
or St.' Miihatl'^ Mount, ran but blindly guefs of
th.emj aifaeic we look on the Maps, that came from
thence, orfee Lettersof Inftruiftion fent; fome one
whom Obfcrvation, Experience, and due Confidcr-
a.tion of that Country hath taught, can moreperfeft-
ly open what flisll in Quefiion thereof grow, and
more efiei^tually reafon thereupon, than ihefkilful-
left otherwil'e whaiioever. And ihat they flioold
beiheveiy Irhabitersof the leveral Countries of this
Kingdom, who fhould be here in Times certain em-
ployed, doubtlels it was the true Meaning of ancient
Kings and our Forefathers, who firft began and e-
flablifhed this Court. But, leaving what I cannot
reach unto, the firft Conttiluiion and Freedom of
this Court, the old Prefident of Parliament- Writs
do teach us, that of every Couniry their own Bur-
geflesfliuuld be cleaed ; the Writ lo ihc Sheriff and
Borough is diredlly fo ; and the Writs lO the. Cities
being Counties, arc, ^ad ex vab'ii ipjis elegatis duss
Cwts,iJc. which do prove it to be fo ; the Sta-
tute in the i H. 5, for the Confirmation of theold
Laws was therefore made, and not to create a new-
unknown Law ; and that other in the H, 6.
wasmadetoredrefs the Mifchief, which by Breach
of that old Law did grow. Thefe do conclude if
without Contradiction, that for that Time it waS'
thought fit to continue the ancient life, Liberty, and'
Conveniency oi Service. We know that luch as
have
r "
r 0/ ENGL AND. ijj
have fpenl their whole Time in Service, or have feen Queen Eliiabeth.
only the Manner of Government of other Nations, '571-
and can tell you how ihc Crown of France is deli-
vered out of WarJIhlp ; or otherwile tell a Tale of
the K.m%oi Cajlili ind Portugal, how they in mak- .
ing of Laws do ufe their own Difcretion ; the King
■d\ Denmaikukih\\ie Advice of his Nobles only,
ind nothing of his Commons ; nor can paint you
out ihetnonftrous Garments of the common People
I m fome Parts of Germany, or the mangled Coni-
DKBiwealth of the Allies, or Shadows ot the gre;it
Qlies, which now are to be feen in Italy , fuiely all
tbofe Men, except they know alfoourown Homes,
are not to be irufted to conclude for our own
Home- AiFairs. Uoubtlefs the bell learned for Mat-
ten of Commoiliiy to be raifed, or to be wrought in
hi) own Country, may happily give Place to Ins own
Neighbours j even as wifely and learnedly a Gentle
inin faid of late, In every Commiuncnt, according
nibe Matier, there muft be a Declaration of Men,
H for Merchandize the Merchant anJ fo forth ;
l&icuifag infud aneperito credcntium, wc hold for a
"ixim. And, I mean this wholly to no other
£, but lines we deal univerfally for all Sorts and
Places, ibat there be here of all Sorts, and all Coun-
B, and not (feeing you lift fo to term itj thus to
% them of Towns and Boroughs, that they
ly chufe at Liberty whom they lift j yet can I
Idly call that a Liberty, which is contrary to that
Diich ihe King and the Queen commonly granteth
•a free Gift, and by ihefe Words, £f Aw(y«r;^r<i-
'I'fl talira, is'c. dcdimui potejiatem, l^t. quod 4e jeipjlt
i^gmt duos Buigiiijes, or duos Gives -, we take it
more fora Man to have of his own, than to have
loyany Man's D:lcreiion] of another.
' It hath been of late oft and wel! faid, that to
iwninate another to a Benefice is nothing worth in
Vilue, but if It be, that a Man may uke the Beee-
Si liiir.rel(, that is both valuable andeftimable ; that
'..nnot hurt, that is ever good for me, if it be ever
t>cd in near^ fcrt unio me ; and for (his Reafoti
wefiiyin Law, That the Kftate Tail, which muft
I i con
134 '^f^^ Tarliamentary History
ii. continue in our own Blood, is better than the Eftata
in Fee fimple, which may be got further from us,
and is to be given to Strangers at Pleafure; Mif-
chiefs and Inconveniences there piay grow isy this
•Liberty; but a Mifchief itmay be to me, and in-
convenient alfo toulier the fame : I wilt not fpeak
ihereof but dutifully, neither do I fee any thin"; that
is amils at this prefent ; what was done a hundred
Years fince, 1 may fafely tell, and thus it "X^s ;
* A Duke of this Realm wrote his Letters to a
City, which 1 know, to this Effedl ; whereby he did
fignify, that a Parliament was to be fummoned in
ihon Time, and that for great Caufes he wasta
crave Aidofallhis Friends, and reckoning them a-
mongft the reft, he wifiied them of four under-no-
minated to chufe two ; the Letter under the Duke'a
Seal is ftill preferved, but hear you the AnCwer ;
he was written to with due Humblenefs, that they
wereprohibited by Law, they might chufe noneof
them. I will venture a little nearer.
' In Queen Marfs Time, a Council of this
Realm (not the Queen's Privy-Council) did write
to aT own, to chufe a Bifliop's Brother, {and a great
Bifhop's Brother it was indeed) whom they allured to
be a good Catholic Man ; and willed them to chufe
to the like of him fome other fit Man. The Coun-
cil was anfwered with Law. And if all Towns in
E'iglaiiii had done the like in their Choice, the
Crown had not been fo wronged, and the Realm
forobbed with fuch Eafe at that Parliament, and
Truth banifhed as it was ; what hath been, may be ;
thereisno Impoilibility. It will be faid, I miftake,
it is not meant, but that Towns fhal! be at Liberty
to chufe whom ihey lift. 1 fay, that Liberty is the
Lois of Liberty ; for when, by Law, they may do
M-hiit they will, they may not well deny what (hall
be required. It is too truly faid, Rcgands cogit qui
rogat (lotefitisr. And, 1 have known one that toa-
yoid a great Man's Difpleafure, that dwelt near him,
that was defirous, as he knew, to buy his Land, did,
upon fmall Occalion, bind himfelf not to alienate
his Lapd from hia Irue peiis ;, Tbjs being known,
— ' . I meani
0/ E N G L A N D. 13s
I mean that he was bound as aforefaid, the great
Man was contented to let him keep his ownquieiiy,*^'"
which othcrwife he would not hvive done. Surely
Law is ihe only Forirefs of the Inferior Sort of
People, and contrary to the Law, the greater Sort
will notdefire toexpeiS any thing. Though now
a this prelent, God be praifed, wc need not to fear
theGreatnefs of any Man, Jufticeis fo well admini-
ftred: Yet hereafter, whatfoever iiaih been wc may
fear, either for Maintenance of Fai^^ion, or Mainte-
nance of Mifchief, Again, I lay, ir may he, what
beretofore was, poFibly again may be. We ftand,
and have ftood of !ate upon the notorious Ma-
nifeliation of the Authoriiy of Parliament ; except
wiihal you keep the ancient Ufageofthc lame, and
withsl endeavour the Freedom thereof, in EiFeft
joudo nothing, if I guefs aright,
' It is further faid, That in fome Towns there
arenot Men of Difcretiun fit ; they be not the wifer
(laid the Gentleman that fpoke before} for being
fiurgeftes. I can never be pcrfuaded, but thateither
the Lord, whofethe Town is, be the Town never
ib little ; or the Steward, if it be the Queen's, or
fome good Gentleman of the Country adjoinant,
will either aflign them who know the Town, and
can be content to be free among them, and to ferve
by ihcir Appointment, for iheir Country, and for
ihem ; or elfe for fome reafonnblc Fee, fuch as he
ofiheir learned Council, and who know them, and
tie Country will deal for them, I mean ii not fo
ftrifUy, that ihofe who fliould be chofen, ihould of
iwsffitybe Dwellers in the Town ; but to be either
oftbe Town, or towards ilie Town, Borderers and
neat Neighbours at the leaft". And, to this KffedVI
would the Biil were framed. I ftand too long;
hereon, and Abundance of Matter occalioneth Con-
fiifion J thisisall. Itwas meant at the firft, and
lirft Conftituiion of Parliament, tha: Men of every
tiWrterianilofal! Sort*^. ihouId come to this Court,
lfi« they fliould be ireely chofen. This in every
^ hitherto luth feemed beft ; to aher without
Omfe is r,ot Convenient ; to dvt eveiy Town
Libcrti-,
■ *
1^6 The Tarliamentary History
Queen EHiabeth. Liberty, may offer in Time Inconvenience. None
1571. fo fit for every Country as thofe who know the
fame. To chufe of their own, ir is a Liberty ; to
lofe their Liberty, I think it a bad Coniimodity, call
it as you pleafe ; by fuch Kind of Releafe in eafing
Men of their Wealths, or fome good Part of their
Living, we befhrew our Charity. And in like Sort,
and in like Reafon, it feems to me this Law is infer-
red out of the Preface of the fame. For thus it is
penned :
*' Forafmuch as fpme Towns, are decayed, and
• have not of their own, therefore let every Town
* do what they lift.' Of. a particular Propofition
to make a general Conclufion, it is againft our Rules 5
3nd nothing, as faith the Philofopher, is more abfurd
than non caufam pro caufa. Some Towns cannot
fend fit Men ; it ftandeth very ftrongly, if you feek
to help, let the Plaifter be fit for the Sore ; let not
the Salve be ftretched too far, left the whole and
found Flefh, by the broad fpreading of the Salve,
do either fmart, fret or fefter. The 'Medicine
which healeih thefick Man, may be Poifon for the
wbple and found Man. All Citizens and Burgcffcs
fliould not be thought alike, and yet all prpvjded for,
as there is due Caufe. Let there be therefore con-
venient Confideration, how to heal, how to hurt.
And, I could wifli, according to the Weight of the
Matter, it might be rather ftaid on, than thus a-
bruptly over-ruled ; anJ while we fly Scylla^ we
fall not into Charybdh ; while we fay that Boroughs
cannot fend to this High Court fo fit Men as be
convenient, that by altering the ancient Ufage,
which is the only Warrant and folc Stay of Freedorp
in Parliament, it may happly be faid we have no
P<:rliament now within ihus Realm, nor Liberty at
all for any fuch here to beholden.*
* Mr. 'Belly in Anfwer to this, did colledt the
Subftance of what had been faid, and in a long Dif-
courfe ihewcd, that it was nt-ceflary all Places
ihould be provided for, and not Boroughs only, be-
ing but one of the Members of :he Commonwealth^
^|id Ih^t fo(ne of theq^ have neither Wealth, to pro-
vide
::
0/ E N G L A N D. 137
fit Men, nor themfdves any in any Sort con-
iient. He thoLight not amifs, if, in refpeft of^'"
ife manifeft Wants, convenient Supply fliould be ;
Ut, without the Warrant of Parliament, Aich Al-
eiaiion might not be. He then thought it not a-
ifc to be advifed. And for the Objedion ofthe
^^'snger which may enfue by reafon of the Letters
m Noblemen; he could not, he faid, but think it
convenient lo prevent the fame j and therefore
flUhed, that there might be the Pendty of Forty
■.Iwinds upon every Borough, that fliould make fuch
Itkftion at the Nomination of anyNoblemdn.'
' Mr. /flford reafoned to this Effed, That above
,4l! Things, necellary Care ought to be for the chu-
Ingand having of fi: Men to fupply the Place, that
,fterebenotlmperfedtion. And therefore noted one
t^l Diforder, that many young Men, not experi-
.(need, for Learning Sake, were often cholen,
■through whofe Default he knew not ; whether
iUners of Noblemen, Love or Affedtion in thi:
Xountry, their own Ambition, or the carskls Ac-
comptofthe Eleflors, or what elle wastheCaufc,
.ie knew not ; but it was to be leen : Whereupon
liB Would, none fhould be of that Houfe, not of
'ttiiriy Years of Age at the leaft. And for ibc
Choice of Townfmen, he faid, he was of his Mind,
Jhat Mofes and Aiirsn fhould be conjoined together ;
jnd that there fhould be one of their own, or fome
•Gentleman near them, who had Knowledgeofthe
j^teofthe Country; and the other a Man learn- ^
'((d, and able to utter his Mind and Opinion, Jince
-^XL Knowledge locked up in the Brejft, not being
.vWdctly opened, is to no Purpofe ; and this Part, he
to, wasas reijujfue for Confultation as the other.
So that he feemed to conclude the Law ihould be
in Force for the one Burgefs, and at Liberty for the
other.
' After which Sjieeches the aforefaid Bill touching
ihe Validity of Uurgefles, &(. was ordered lo be
.Committed lo Sir Tho?nas Hiltsn, Knight ; Mr. Bell,
■Mr, Rubert Bmcs, Mr. F^eetwsed, Mr. Warmcamb,
Mr. hedk, Mr. Atkhn^ Mr. Alfurd and Mr. Gyms ;.
138 TheTarliamentary Histortw
Q^RnEUnbuh. ^'^^ appointed to meet in the T'emple-Church, upoo
157'- 5a/ar^rtvnext,att\voof theCIoct: in the Afternoon.'
April the 19th, the Bill againft Ufury was read
the fecond Time, which occafion'd another Debate
in the Houfc. And,
Deiwte oa 1 Kll * ^'^ft one Mr Clarie fpolte to this EfFeft, That
■pioSururr. the referring of the Punilhment in the Bill men-
tioned, being put to the Ecclefiaftical Judges, for
io much was nothing ; for that they are to punifii
bv the Civil Law, by the Canon Law, or by the
Temporal Law. The Civil Law would not avail
them, becaule by that Law there is Allowance of
Ufury. The Canon Law is abolilhed ; and in that
Refpeft the Temporal Law faith nothing i fo that
the Pretence may feem to be fomewhat, but the
Effeft (hereby wrought is nothine ; yet that it was
ill, neither Chriftian nor Pagan ever denied, jirif-
tslk being alk'd what Ufury was ? He faid it was.
Prater Naturam, and therefore could not be defined.
Plata, being aik'd the fameQueftion, anfwer'd it
ViiSyldim acHominem ocddere. SiiAugukine the fame;
and, in the very Words of the PJahmfti anfwerclh to
the Queftion, Dsmine qu'n kabitabit in Tabernaaih
tuB ? He faid, ^i curat Preximn fm, ncn decipit
eum, y qui Pecuniam fuam nsn daSii ad Vfuram,
Mr Mollsy, firft learnedly and artificially making
an Introduction to the Matter, fliewed, what it
might be thought on for any Man to endeavour the ,
Defence of that which every Preacher at all TimesM|
following the Letter of the Book, did fpeak againftw
yet, faith he, it is convenient, and being in fom^l
Sort ufed, it is not repugnant to the Word of God^
Kxperience hath proved the great Mifchief whidg
doth grow by reafon of cxceffive Taking, to th^l
Deftrudion of young Gentlemen, and otherwiftj
infinitely j but the Mifchief is of the Excefs no^
otherwife. Since to take reafonably, or fo than
both Parties might do Good, was not hurtful i fori
to have any Man lend his Money without 3^1^
Commodity, hardly ihould you bring that to pafejj
And fince every Man is not an Occupier who hatMJ
Money, and fome which have not Money may yet*
have Skill to uJe Money, except you fhould take
awaj
0/ E N G L A N D. 139
amy or hinder good Trades, Bargaining and Con- „„
wafling cannot be ; God did not fo hate it, that he
did utterly forbid it, but to the Jnus amongft ihem-
Itlres only, for that he willed they flioiild lend as
Brethren together ; for unto all others thpy were
at large ; and therefore to this Day ihey are ihe
greateftUfurers in the World. Butbeir, as indeed
it is, evil, and that Men are Men, no Saints, to
do all thefe Things perfeilly, uprightly and bro-
itietly i yet ex ductus maUs minus malum eHgendum ;
ind better may it be born to permit a little, t'lan
UHcrly to take away and prohibit Traffick ; which
liirdly may he maintained generally without this.
' But it may be faid, i: is contrary to the direft
Word of God, and therefore an ill Law; if it
Were to appoint Men to take Ufury, it were to be
dilliked ; but the Difference is great between that
ind permitting or allowing, or fuffering a Matter
'0 be unp'jnithed. It may be faid, that Nudum .
Paiifm nan parit OhUgdtmem, but there muft be
Ibmewhat given in Confideraiion. Let be that
ihere is nothing given of the Lenders, yet there is
fomewhatyim/V^, ttf omne bo/sum Exemplum, is" emnis
Ux in ft alifuid habei Mali ; for that Tome body
ftall fuffer thereby. We are not, quoth he, fo
ilraitned to the Word of God, that every Tranf-
greflion fhould be furely punifhed here. Every
viin Word is here forbidden by God, yet the Tem-
poral Law doth not fo utterly condemn it. As for
the Words of the Scripture, he faid, the Hebrew
fcundeth thus in Anfwer of this Queftion ; ^li nen
isi Peainiam fuam ad Marfum : So it is the Biting
ind over-fharp Dealing which is difliked and nothing
?ile. And this, he faid, was the Opinion and
'nierpre Cation of the mod: famous learned Man
fca, and in thefe Days, of Bellarmirie and divers
others, who fay, that the true Interpretation of the
Mibrrui Word is not Ufura, but Morfus.
' DtlVitJon, Mafterof the Requelts, faid, that
in a Matter of fo great Weight he could not fliorcly
ipeak; and acknowlc.lgirg that he had thoroughly
ftudied the Matter, defired the Patience of the Houfe,
And
1 40 The Tarltamentary History
C^eenEluabeth, And firft he endeavoured to prove, that the com-
1571* mon Slate may be without Ufury ; then he (hewed,
how even Men that have been ignorant of God or
his Laws, finding the Evils thereof by their Laws»
redreffed it ; and utterly prohibited the Ufe thereot
As the Athenians caufed all the Writings taken for
Intereft Money to be burnt ; and the like did LycwT'^
gus by a Law which he made, and feeing the Fi«^
he faid, he never faw fo fair a Flame as tbofe Boob
yielded. He then made a Definition of Ufury».
fhewing it was taking of any Reward, or Priced.
Sum, over and above the due Debt. To mab. J
any Thing of that which is not mine, it is Robbery.
Forthwith upon the Delivery of the Loan Money,- i
it is not mine. And the Law is, that Mutvum
muft ever be free. And here he (hewed the Difle-
rence between Location and Mutuum\ the one {
implying a Contraft, the other none. He remcm- •
bred, out of Ezechielgm^ other the Prophets, fundiy ■
Places of Scripture ; and vouched St Augujiimh Say-
ing, that to take but a Cup of Wine is Ufury and
damnable. This he feemed to fay in Anfwer to
that which had been before pronounced, that it wtt
not Ufury except it were M^fus.
* He (hewed, that Lofs may grow by Ufuryi
Firft, to the Queen, then to the Common- Weai^V
To the Queen in this, that Men not.ufing tbdr
own Money, but finding great Gain in Ufury, do
imploy the fame that Way ; fo that her Cuftonili
muft decreafe : To the Common- Wealth, for thiV
whofo (hall give Hire for Money, is to raife tlMi
fame in the Sale of his Commodity. All Trades.
ihall be taken away, all Occupations loft ; for mdk
Men feeking moft Eafe, and greareft Gain, with-
out Hazard or Veniure, will forthwith implojr
their Money to fuch Ufe. He (hewed it to be la
hateful in the Judgment of the- Common LaWf, •
that an Ufurer was not admitted to be a Witne&i
nor after his Death to the common Sepulchre of.
Chriftians. And for that his Difcourfe had been,
long, he inferted (as he faid} this Tale for Recreib?!
tion of the Hearers.
0/ ENGLAND. 141
' In Italy, quoth lie, a greal known Uilirer be- qu,
hi" dead, the Curate denied him [he common Place
" Burial J his Friends made Suit, the Pfieft would
_.. hear ; in fine, the Sniiors bethought them of a
Jfolicy to bring it to pais, that he might be burled in
^Church i which was this: The Parfon of the
iDlurch did accultomably ufe to carry his Books
duly from his Houfe to the Church on his Afs ; and
■tte Als, by often going, needed not to be driven,
kl, knowing his Journey, as foon as he was laden,
#euld, of himfelf go to the Church Door: They
Wred the Parfon, his Afs might carry the dead Bo-
^ J and where it Oiould ftay there ir might
» buried. Tq lb fond a Requell the Prieft
jgtced ; the Body was laid on the Afs, who, feeling
Igteater Burthen than he was ufed to bear, did run
lOWards the Town, never ftaying until he came to
ftecommon Place of Execution.
' This Tale merrily told, he again entred to his
Matter, and proved the Condemnation of Ufury
Wd Ufutets, by the Auihoiiiy of the Nicene, atid
divers other Councils: He (liewed, that the Di-
rtnes do call Ufury a Spider, a Canker, an Afpis, ii
Serpent and a Devil, He fliewed how, in Nature,
AeOffences of Homicide and Ufury are to be com-
jledj and by Examples proved the Ruins of divers
Commonwealths, when fuch Praftlces for Gain
M tuffered, as that of the Commonwealth of
Xdnr, i^e. The Manner of Exchange now ufed
to^iw^on, and how much Abufe he Ihewed ; a
Idling in old Time not praftiibd, but by the King:,
u'mEdw. sd's Time, when thereby llie King ob-
.flfined fuch Treafure, and fuch exceflive Wealth,
flat it was (irft wondred at, then guefled that ic
aewby the Science of Alchymy. He here fhewed
nc Practice of the Low-Csunlriei, of Germany^
Md namely the Doings of Fulchers to the very beg-
Jring of great and mighty Princes ; he avouched
tbe Authority of Sir yobn Cheik in that Place, con-
CHtiing that Matter ; and the Mind of the ancient
ij^f/^ Law- Writers, who fay that the Offence of
Wfuty in Life the Bifliop is lo punifli ; but after his
Death his Exec«to[3.Ihall not hare his Goods, but
Ihcy
i.\i The 'Parliamentary Histort
QuteBmijaictii. they appertain ad Fifiutn. He concluded, thai the
* W- Offence, in his Confcience, fliould be judged Felony."
' Mr, Bell faid. This Matter being fo ample had
occafioned much Speech, and was for cunning
Men a fit Theme to Ihew their Wiuand Skills up-
on. Yet, laiih lie, ii Ibndeth doubtful whac Ufury
\i i ve have no true Definition of it. And, in out
Laws, we have linle wiitien thereon but this, UJii-
Ta nsn cm rat juper Jiifanicm. And not much more
but to antwer the Objeflions, where it is pretended»
thai the not punifiiing of it by the Temporal Judge,
may feem to be an Approbation of it, or to leave it
to the Chuich may feem as if we had no Care con-
cerning it i fijr that to put ovei an Offence to ano-
ther Judge, may not be fo faid, if to the Church it
may appertain, and they may well coireft it. He
further (hewed, that the Privilege of the Church is
by Stamie upon this Point to be expreiled, namely
in [he Statute de Articulis Cleii. He faid, We muil
not curioufly fe;irch Cicero's Paradoxes, and pro-
nounce that Pcaalii futit agunlln, hac ejl, quod imnt
piccatum eji peccatum ; and no further -■ But be c-
very Man, according to hisTranfgrefliDns, to make a
reafonable Pain j though he who llealeth iwoPence,
doth as well fteal as he who ftealeih an hundred
Pounds; yet there are Degrees ; we have Piiit
Larceny, and that which is greater j both Faults,
both to be puniflied, both to be hated ; but Diffe-
rence there is in Puniihing, even according to the
Greatnefs and Smallnefs of the Offence ; for the
one there is Death, and for the other not fo.
' In. the Statute for punifliing of Perjury, in the 5th
of this Queen, there are fundry Degreesof PerjOry :
Not lor that there is leis Perjury in the one than in
the other; but that there is greater Hurt occafioned
in tht one than in the o'.her. In Anfwer of the
Scripture, he faid, the Law of God is, If thsu bi
firtclen an the one Cheek, to tum the ether j or ;/
Ckai be taken away, to give alfo thy Gown, The
leral Senfe is not to be taken, and, as there is Caui
a reafon^ble Conflruftlon muft be. So he conck^
ded, that though it were a Sin, yet it was to be pu-
t:ifli«d
0/ E N G L A N D. 143
riflicd liere on Earth according lo the good or bad> q^^^ Ei;««teth,
or lalher according to the greater or leJl'er Hurt 1571.
which groweth thereby.
' After which one, whofe Name is not expreflcJ
iothe faid amnymsus 'JBumd, endeavour'd the An-
ivet of Dt. lP^!/on, but with a Proteftation of his
Infijfficiency ; and then hcihewed,how the Divines
hivcnot agreed what is Ufury, but for his own Part,
hewas to incline to the Opinion of the Learned of
thefe Days, whofe In lerpretat ion of literal Senfe and
Skill of the Tongues do appear ; which took that
fbr no Ufury which is without Grievance. He
made a Difference of the Law of God concerning
the Divine Miijefty contained in the firft Table,
and what is concerning Man in the lecond Table ;
faying, that nothing is to be faid in that Degree Sin
inilfelf,butby theCircumftances; for fo it is known
whether it be good or bad. To kill is prohibited,
ytl fomctimes not to kill is evil. Phineas killed,
and was therefore commended. And Thefts, at
Times, have been in Scripiures approved. So like-
wife Ufury is allowed of in the Scriptures ; but
tfiatit might be ufed to Strangers only: Albeit the
tJiifen Children of God amongft themfelves might
not ufe it. But let be, whether it be utterly unlaw-
liil, or in fome Sort to be tolerated, it is a Queftion ;
and until it be determined for the common Commo-
tty and Maintenance, let It be as hitherto it hath
bten ufed. And for the common Sort of BargMis
Of Com for Cloth, Silk for Land, i^c' what they
ie, whether Ufury or no, we know not. That all
ftould be well, it is to be wiflied j that all may be
fcne well among Men, it is beyond Hope ; for we are
BO Saints, we are not of Perfection to follow the
Letter of the Gofpel, It'J^nfa firiketh ibe one ChetH^
ffe. and this Text, Dale nihil inde fptr/inla : Thefe
are no exprefs Commandments. For the 6rft, the
Law of Nature doth direft, and for the other alfo
the fame Law in Effeft maketh Defence ; furely
there can be no Sin where there can be no Breach of
Charity. To do that therefore to another which
m would to ourfelvcs (the State, Circumftance,
and
1 44 Th'-' Parliamentary Histor r
Q^jj. , . and CaCe [0 ouifelves confitiercd) is commendable-
t<;]i, or not to be reproved ; if we ourfelvesbe toborrow^
who is it ihnt would not, in Extremity, give a litiJe
tofavemudi Money ? It isfaid, TheUfurer dotf;
or may grow rich : Who hath difliked, in a Com-
mohwealth, that there fhould hcHommes bsnifrugi?
they may be confidered, and may be good, more
than for one Purpol'e. He further rtood on this.
That God did not abfoluiely forbid Ufuiy, which
furely if ii had been utterly ill, he would have done.
And he added, That the common Laws were cruel
in [heir Cenfures, and wiflied that they fhould be
no more temeinbred than they are followed,
' Serjeant Lovelace argued to thb Effeft, That
Ufury was of Money only, protefting that he hated
all Kind of Ufury, but yet the greaier the 111 was,
the more and more greatly did he hate the fame.
JJuc to prohibit it wiih fo Iharp and extream a Law
astolofeali, he thought it would be the Ground of
greater Coveioufnefs. Withal, he added, to prohi-
bit the III of Covetojfnefs in Generality, were rafh,
void, and frivolous j fince that the Speech and the
Att irfelf is indefinite, comprehending all our Ani-
ons and Doings ; and therefore, as utterly vain to
prohibit it, in v:iiii Words of Generality. To pro-
hibit Drunkennefs, Pride, Envy, Surfeiting, iSe,
were fomewhat in fome particular Sort ; to do it in
Generality, albeit that we know that it is every
Way damnable by the diredl and wriiten Word
of God, it were but Folly. Of thefe great
Evils, (to the which Man, of his Nature, is born
and made prone, and too aptj when we may not
reach to the beft, furtheil: and utiermofl, wc mud
do, as we may fay, by Degrees. As to liiy, there
fhall be no Deceit, or Slight in making of this or
that Kind of Wares ; that the Hufbandman fliaH
till his arable Land, and that he fhall not keep above
lijch a Number of Sheep ; that there fhall be noi |
Foreflalling, Regrating, ^c. and this in Particularity*!
whereas otherwife, generally amongftfinful Men^B
prohibit this Sin or that Sm utterly on a Pain, i3B
may not be : But thus rather, he that Iliall fo li^l
0/ E N G L A N D. 145
fcali fuffcr, or iofe fo mucii ; whereupon he con- ^i
cWed, that there Ihould be Degrees'in punilhing of
Ufury ; as he that fliould Cake I'o much, to lofe, or
be punifhed thus ; he that (hall take more, more
<i«ply.
' Mr. F!eel~uiMd (hewed, that all ihefe Argu-
ments long fince, with great Skill, and very ofEcfl
bvebeen opened in this Place: He faidjit was/n^«-
Kiipudaris faUri per qmm pmfeceris. Mr. Cheek,
befiid, argued, and fo far forth explained this Mat-
ter, as ihe Learner was thereby fufficiently inform-
ed, and the Learned fully fatisfied. His Papers of
his Speech, he faid, he had not loll, and therefore
could [hew as much Cunning as thecunningeft,
which had bene or endeavoured himfelf ihereunto.
He faid, he had read the Civil Law, and of the
Comraori Law Ibmewhat ; but how well he did un-
derlbtid il, he would not promife ought : What
Ufory was, he faid, he was not to learn ; call it, if
we lift, Preximd liomicidio, or how elfe by a De-
Icripiion he forced not much ; for if ihere were not
Civil Law, it Were not much to be accounted of for
sny Certainty in this Cale thereby ro be had ; and
ihe moft antient Laws of this Realm have taught
"! thereof fomewhat ; as the Laws of do
make to us mention of Ufury. So do the Laws
made in Lucius's Time, and thofe of Jiihelredi
whcrAy it was ordained, that Witches and Ufurers
fljould be baniflied. Kmg Edward, the Saint, rti-.
fareth and appointeth the O&cnders herein to fuficr
OrdaHunl. Then was there a great Kind of Ufur^
known, which was called Torus, and a lefler known
by the Name of Glatmle, in the Book de
iiihis entiquist maketfi mentiori of an -Inquiry of
Uiriftian Ufurers. In the Taw^r, he faid, he had
feena Commillion awarded to the Mailer of the
Courts ^he named noi what Courts) to enquire of
tJfurers, and the PunifhmcnC of them, he faid, was
whipping ; he faid further, by Scripture, he knew it
waadamnable; and therefore, whether ic was good
or not good, it was no good Quellion. For the
M«ter of Implicalion, whether by the Pretence of
Vol. iV. K ^ the
1
14^ The Parliamentary HisTORt
Oi^enBUeabcth,^^^ Law it might be intended that it was in any
Kjyi. ' Sort allowed ; he faid, It might be conftrued and
compared there with the Statute of Tithes : Whcie
it is faid, That till for fcven Years after Heath* :
Ground broken up, no Tithe ftiall be paid ; die
Conftruftion hereupon is clear. He- fliewed alfOi
that Ufury was malum in fe^ for that of forae oihtf-^
Tranfgre(Iions,her Majefty may difpenfe afore with);
but lor Ufury, or to grant that Ufury maybe
fhe poflibly cannot. He further faid. That
Words of an Aft of Parliament are not ever to
followed ; for that fometimes the Conftmfliob
more contrary to what is written, as in the Stai
of Magna Charta ; nifi prius homagiurri fid
And fome Statutes are winked at by Non-Ob'
tion or otherwife, fo that they fcem to be no Laii
even in thofe Things which we pradlife moft, as
Statute of Glocejier^ for the Oath to be taken
l^ebt and Damages.
. 'Mr. Dalton endeavoured to prove, that
Fleetwood rniftcok the Bill, but, in Fancy, he
look his Arguments.
* Mr. Norton fhewed, that all Ufury is Bitii
as in the Word Steal is contained all Kind of inj
ous taking away of a Man's Goods : And as Sis
rizingisfaid to be Murlhering or Homicide;
Ufury juftly ever to be faid Biting, they being
fo correlated or knit together, that the one may
be without the other. He concluded. That fii
is doubtful what is good, we fliould be mindl
the old Saying, ^(^^^z/W/tf; nefecerh^ and for]
Sluodnon ex fide ejl peccatum </?, therefore he
that no Allowance fhouldbe of it.'
After which Debate, the Bill was commit
Mr. Treafurer and others, but their Names
mentioned.
jtpril the 20th there were fome Arguments
to^thc^iJbliVtref concerning the Liberties of that Houfe, and
of the Houlc. fome Untruths which had been reported of it.
which Mr .Speaker declared, ' That the Quec
* as good Liking of this Parliament, as ever flh
. * of any Parliament fince her Majefty's Reign»' ^
0/ ENGLAND. 147
Phciame Day a Bill for Fugitives, or fuch as QuefnEliftbetii,
c fled beyond Sea without Licence, was read a 1571.
Time, fay the Journals^ but Dewes's a Second ;
which Mr Wentworth ftood up, and put the
ife in Mind of a Speech made by Sir Humphrey
ert fome Days before :
He proved his Speech (without naming him)
; an Injury to the Houfe ; he noted his Difpofi-
to flatter and fawn on the Prince, comparing
to theCameleon, which can change himfelf into
Colours, faving White ; even fo (faid he) this
MTter^an change himfelf into all Fafhions but
efty : He (hewed further the great Wrong
: to one of the Houfe, by a Mifreport made to
Queen, meaning Mr Bell ; he (hewed hi9
ch to tend to no oiher End than to inculcate
' into thofe which (hould be free ; he requeued
I for the Credit of the Houfe, and for the Main*
ace of free Speech fthe only Means of ordinary
:eedings) and to preferve the Liberties of the
fe, to reprove Lyers, inveighing greatly out of
Scriptures and other wife, again ft Lyers. As
of Davidy T*hcu O Lord Jhalt deftroy Lyers^ &c.
Mr Treafurer fignified his Defire to have all
ngs well ; (iiying, he could not enter into
;ment of any ; but he fiid, it was convenient
leeches (hould be avoided, and the good Mean-
of all Men ta be taken, without Wrefting or
Deporting ; and the Meaning of all Men to be
rod in good Sort without unfeemly Words.
Mr Speaker endeavoured an Agreement and
ty in 'the Houfe, making Signification that the
^n*s Majefty had in plain Words declared unto
i, that (he had good Intelligence of the orderly
ceedings among us ; whereof (he had as good
ing as ever (he had of any Parliament fince (he
le unto the Crown ; and wi(hed we (hould give
no other Caufe than to continue the fame, and
led further her Majefty's Pleafure to be, to take
dcr for Licences ; wherein (he h^d been careful, .
imore careful would be.
K* Mr
14^ The TnrliameJitary HisTob^t
QuMaEUnbeth. * ^'^ CurUlon, wUh a very good Zeal, i
1571. orderly fhew of Obedience, made SignifiL-ation hoi
that a Member of the Houte was detained frola
them fmeanmg Mr Struklond) by whofe Com-
mandment, or for what Caule lie knew not. But
And on a K(m-*^°'' ^^ niuch as be W2S not Jiow 3 private Man, but
bcr belne detsjn-to fupply the Room, Perlon and Place of a Multi-
«d- tude fpccially chofen, and therefore fent, bethought
that neither in regard of the Country, which was
not to be wronged, nor for the Liberty of the
Houfe, which was not to be infringed, we (hould
permit him to be detained from us. But, what-
ibever the Intendment of this Offence might be,
that he Ihould be fent for to the Bar of that Houfe,
there to be heard, and there toanfwer.
' MrTreafurerinforaeCafe gave Advertifement
to be wary in our Proceedings, and neither to ven-
ture further than our alTured Warrant might ftretch,
nor to hazard our good Opinion with her Majefty
on any doubtful Caufe. Wjthal he wifiied us not
to think worfe than there was Caufc. For the
M?.n [quoth he) that is meant, is neither detained
nor mifufed, but on Con lidera liens as required to
expe£l the Queen's Pleafure, upon certain fpecial
Points ; Wherein {he faid} he durft to aflure that
the Man fliould neither have caufe to diflike or
complain, fince fo much Favour was meant unto
him as he reafonahly could wjfli. He further faid,
that he was in no Sort flayed for any Word or
Speech by him in that Place offered; but for the
exhibiting of a Bill into the Houleagainft the Pre-
rc^ative of the Queen ; which was not to be tole-
rated. Neverthelefs the Conftruftion of him was
rather to have erred in his Zeal and Bill offered,
than malicioufly to have meant any Thing contrary
to the Dignity Royal. And laftly, he concluded.
That oft it had been Icen, that Speeches have beeO
examined and confulered of.
* Sir Nicholat Arnold, with fome Vehemency*
moved, that Care might be had for the Liberty of
the Houfe } he was enforced, he faid, rather to
i ■' Ltter»
O/^E N G X A N D. 14^
,(ter, and /b to run into Danger of Offence ofq^cmiihibt^,
[thcrs, than to be offended with himfelf. 1J71.
. ' Mr Comptroller replied to the Effeit Mr Trea- '
f'Jret had before fpoken.
' Mr CUerf told, how ihe Prerogative is not
difputable, and that the Safely of the Queen is the
Safety of rhe Subjeds. He added, how that for
Mailer of Divinity, every Man was for his Inftruc-
tion to repair to his Ordinary, being a private Map.
(where he utterly forgot the Place he fpake in, and
ihe Perfon who was meant j (or that Place required
and permitted free Speech with Authority, and the
Petfon was not himfelf a private Man, but a pub-
lick; by whom even the Ordinary himielf was to
bedireflcdj He concluded, that for as much as
iheCaufe was not known, he therefore would the
Houlefiiould ftay.
' Mr Tehertoti faid he was to be fent for, arguing
inihisSort. Firft, he faid, the Precedent wasperi-
\m, and though in this happy Time of Lenity,
«nong fo good and honourable Perfonages, unHer
fc gracious a Prince, nothing of Extremity or In-
Jiry Was to be feared ; yet the Times mij^ht be
■ffined, and what now is permitted, hereafter might
beconftrued as of Duty, and enforced even on this
Ground of the prefent Permilfion. He further
fiid, that all Matters not Treafon, or loo much to
ibe Derogation of the Imperial Crown, were lole-
Bble there ; where all Things came to be confidercrf
of, and where there was fuch Fulnefs of Power, as
even the Right of the Crown was to be determined,
lEd by Warrant whereof we had fo refolved. That
to fay the Parliament had no Power to determine of
ihc Crown, was High-Treafon. He remembered
how that Men are not there for themielves, but for
iheir Countries. He ftiewcd, it was fit for Princes
to have their Prerogatives ; but yet the fame to be
Siaitned within reafonable Limits. The Prince,
fitfliewed, could not of herfelf mike Laws, nei-
% mii:ht (he by the fame Reafon break Laws.
ffe further faid, that the Speerh uttered in that
Plice, and the Offer made o( the Bill, was no: to
Kt b«
1 50 The Tarltamentary H i story
^ecnEiizabeth. be condemned as Evil; for that if there wcreaiqi
'57»« Thing in the Book of Common- Prayer, citho
Jewifl)^ Turki/h or Popi/I), the fame was to be re-
formed. He alfo faid, that amongft the Papifts it
was bruted, that by the Judgment of the Counci/,
Strickland was taken for an Herctick j it behoved
therefore to think thereof.
' Mr Fleetwood firft (hewed the Order of Cnri
Arguments from the Caufe,to this Effeft, ihatTime
mult be known and Place obferved. He faid tbeilij
that of Experience he could report of a Man tbtj
was called to Account of his Speech in 5*° of tHi!
Queen; but he faid, he could not meddle with 6
late Matters, but what he had learned in the ParBif
^ ment Rolls, he thought convenient (hould be knowa
and confidered of. In the Time of Henry VI •%
Bifhop 6f the Parliament was committed to Prifci
by Commandment of the King ; the Parliaincflf
refolved to be Suitors for him. And in King Ihm
V. the Speaker himfelf was committed, and wM
him another of the Houfe ; the Houfe thcrcupQI
ftayed, but Remedy they had none, other than to
be Suitors to the King for them ; whereupon In
refolved, that the only and whole Help of dn
Houfe for Eal'e of their Grief in this Cafe, w^as H
be humble Suitors to her Majefty, and neither (end
for him, nor demand him of Right.
* During which Speech the Council whifpcfd
together, and thereupon the Speaker moved, tM
the Houfe fliould make Stay of any further ConfnP
tation thereupon.'
On the 21 ft Day of Aprils a Provifo was ofieid
to be made to the Bill for coming to Church an^
receiving the Communion. Which being read I
fecond Time, divers Arguments were ufed on itt..
* Mr j^glionby argued, that there (hould be ij
human politive Law to inforce Conlcience, wHd
relating to the ^^ not difcernable in this World. To come |j
Coxnmunioji. the Church, for that it is publick, and tendeth bi
to prove a Man a Chriftian, is tolerable andconffi
nient j and not to come to a Church may make^
Man feem irreligious, and fo no Man \ for that M
Refr
Of ENGLAND. 151
Religion on!y a Man is Icnown and difcerncd from ^nci
"Bruie Bcaftsi and this is to be judged by thaOut ward
Shew. But ilic Confcience of Man is eiemal, in-
viiibte, and noi in the Power of the greateft Monar-
chy in the World, in any Limits to be ilrailned, in
»ny Bounds to be coniained, nor with any Policy
of Man, if once decayed, to beagain raifed. He
Oiewed, that neither "jtw nor lurk Jo require more
than the Submillion lo the outward Oblervance,
>nd a convcnitnc Silence, as not to dillike what is _
iwblicltly piofelled ; hut to inforce any to do ihe
A3, which mny tend lo tJie Diftovery of his Con-
iJUK£, it is never foiuid. He ihewed the Diffe-
ifiiec betwixt coming to Church, and receiving the
Cmninunion ; the one he allowed to be inconipre-
hcnlible in Law, the oihet he could not allow.
And in Anfwer of that which before had been laid,
thai the Confcience was not ftraimed, but a Penalty
DfttwLofs of theirGoodsoiily aiijuJged ; whereof,
Dodoubt, the Law of Gcd and the Law of Nations
^ given to the Prince an abfolute Power ; he faid
to this, out of Cicero de Legibus, that Man out of
is own Nature is to care for the Safety of Man, as
ifing realbnable Creatures, and not the one to feek
to bereave the other of his neceffiry Livelyhood,
sAiingouc of the fame Book, this Saying of Ta^,
^Bi Dtum len -curat hum Deus ipfe judUdbit. He
.Bcwedout of St /^au/, that we mull not do 111 that
Good may grow thtreby ; wc mull noi take from
iim that is his, to the End thereby to make him
to do what is not in his Power; to be lit for fo
peat a Myftery God above of his free Gift may
nake a Man.
' To come im worthily the Penalty is appointed,
t Paul hath pronounced it to be Death and Damna-
oti, as guiity of the Blood and Death of Chrilt.
lot to come our Compulfory Law ihall now con-
tmn, fo that this our Favour herein to be extend-
it is either to beg, or be exiled from our native
—Jauntry. He faid, There Wiis no Example in the
raimitive Church to prove a Commandment for
ftming to the Communion, but an Exhortation ;
t
15a The Tarliamentary Hi story
A • rr v^u he faid, St. Amhrofe did excommunicate TheodofM
Queen Elizabeth. iri-iv- ^i-/-» • l '^ a
1571, and forbjd him to come to the Communion, bccaafe
he was an evil Man. And for us to will and cogi-
mand Men to come, becaufe they are wicked Men,
it is too ftrange an Inforcement, and without Pre^
cedent.
* Mr. jtgmonde/hatn^ without Regard of any thing
fpoken before, made mention of a Decree in the
Star-Chamber, made by nine of the Privy Counc^
figned with their Hands, and the Hands of the .
Ghief Juftices, concerning the receiving of the Com* i
munion by Gentlemen of the Temple. This De- ..
cree, made by fo grave and learned Men, he thought .
for himfelf, and to his own Confcience, was a Stay -
what to judge, and a Direftion or Precedent what
to follow : The Tenor of which Decree, for fo
much as it did concern the Reformation of the
Houfes of Courts, and principal Places to be thought
and confidered of, be wifhed might be infertcd into
the Law. The Motion was well liked, and he re* '
quired to bring the fame the next Day, which was
ilone.
' Mr. Norton (hewed, that where many Men be^
lliere mufl be many Minds, and in ConfultaticW
convenient it is, to have contrary Opinions, contra-
ry Reafons and Contradidlions ; thereby the rather
to wreft out the beft : But this by the Ruleof Rea«
foning, and Reafon muft htfmejurgiis: He then (ak]^
that not only the external and outward Shew is ttk
be fought, but the very Secrets of the Heart in God'i
Gaufe, who \s Scrutator Cordium^ muft come to $
Reckoning. And the good Seed fo lifted from the
Cockle, that the onp may be known fron the other*
A Man baptized is not to be permitted among us
for a Jew. And here fomewhat flipping from the
Matter in Speech, he moved, that all fufpedled (or Pa**
f'ftyy might make this Oath, That they did acknowf! -
ledge the Queen to be Queen^ for any thing th«.]
Pope, in any refpeft, might do, noting fome Impcf^ "^
fe<jlion in the former Oath. To this End, quoth: 'i
he, are the Bulls now fent to difcharge Men of th«< :
Ailegiance,and to give free. Pardon of Sins \ fo ' tjut. '
he.
«
Of ENGL AN D. 153
he, who thus ftould be pardoned, fhould Trom QnMnEiiiiberti,
henceforth in no fort communicate with the Profef- "57'.
forsofthe Gofpel ; and now, quoth he, the very
Touchftone of Trial, who be thole Rebellious
Cah'es, whom the Bull hath begotten, muft be the
Keceiving of the Communion ; which whofolliall
refufe, we may juftly fay. He favouretii, i^c. And
Men. are not otherwife to be known but by the ex-
ternal Sign. To anfwcr and fadsfy the Dilemtna
objefted before in the firft Day, made concerning
iBeDiforders of certain Minifters, in faying of the
Service contrary to the Inilrudtion of the Book ; he
widied, this Provifo might be added, that mifl:aking ,
ofChapCers, mif-reading, (^c. fliould be recovered as
loOffence, fo that there be no Mafs-Song, or Po-
I»fh Service ufed in Latin, i^c. And thus the Bill
Kfted to be further confidered of.'
This is the Sum of all the Debates which the ^'^ur-
'"///? hath given us in this Seflion of Parliament.
But, it is to be obferved, that thofe Debates, efpeci-
sllyon Church AiFairs, weremanaged with Caution,
for the Queen always fhewed a Diilike that the
■fJoufe of Commons fliould meddle in Ecclefiaftical
■blatters. Nor were they without fome Checks
from Court, on the Freedom of Speech in other
TChings, where it bore too hard on the Prerogative.
"Ai, Strickland, "we are told, in one of his Speeches,
^arneftly prelling the Reformation of the Book of
^^mmon-Prayer, was, the next Day, called before
Ite Queen's Council, and commanded by them to
'orbear going to the Hoofe till their pleafure was
further known. This occafioned great Clamour
■Vsithin Doors ; and divers Speeches and Motions
"Vvcremade, relating to Breach ofPtivileae, by Re- ^h^'tsfhcMcm-
ftraintofoneof their Members from attending; altho'iKra fordebaiing
he was neither imprifoned nor confined. But, the""''™""^^"-
Spaker got up, and defired the Hout to forbear any '"^^ "'' ^'
fijrther Debate on that iMalter ; and, the next Day,
Wr. S/nir>/jWcameag.iin to the Houfe by the Coun-
cil's Allowance, to the no fmall Joy of his Bre-
|lirea. On another Day, alfOjthisSeflioa, the Speak-
154 ^^^ Tarliamentary HisrofiJ
<lueen Elizabeth, ^r in forme;! the Hopfe, .that he had received a Com-
1571. mand from her Majefty to caution the Mcmberslo
fpend lefs Time in Motions, and to avoid loQg
Speeches. The Joumalift tells us, that this Md-
fage was occafioned by one Mr. Bell^ fpeaking a-
gainft Monopolies or granting of Licences, whicl),
he thought, was contrary to certain Statutes, audi
as was faid, fccmcd to fpeak againft the Prerogative.
Tho', adds the Journalifty what he did fay was h
much to Order, that thofe who were touched migbl
be angry, but they could not blame him for it-
The next Thing we think proper to mention^
in the Proceedings of the Commons, this Seflion, if
a Cafe of Bribery, It feems that one Thomas Lmg^
Gent, was returned for the Borough ofTfyibury^\SL
the County of IVilts^ for this prefent Parliamcnli
Proceedings in a who being found out to be a very fimple Man, and
Ckufc of Bribery, not fit to ferve in that Place, was queftioned how
he came to be elected. The poOr Man immediate^
lyconfefled to the Houfe, that he gave to Jntlmf
Gar/and^ Mayor of the faid Town oi WeJibury^txA
one Watts^ of the hmt^four Pounds^ ibr his Place
in Parliament. Upon which, an Order was made
that the faid Garland and Watts (hould repay unIO
the faid Thomas Long the four Pounds they had <rf
him. Alfo, that a Fine of twenty Pounds be aflcf*
fed, for the Queen's Ufe, on the faid Corporatm
and Inhabitants of JVeJibury^ for their fcandalous A^
tempt. That the faid Thomas Long (hould bedi^
charged from ^U Bonds, given to the faid Corporate
on, for executing his Place in Parliament. And*
laftly, that the Mayor and Watts (hould be fent for
by a Purfuivant, to anfwer fuch Things as fboaU
be objected againft them by the Houfe.
But we hear no more of this Matter ; probablf
the Straitncfs of the Time prevented it, being vcrjrj
near the End of this Seffion. It muft be allowed ihi
a Seat in Parliament was held very "cheap in tboft
Days. For, tho' the V^alueof Money, then, wtf
much greater than it is now, y^i four Pounds cm
never bear a Proportion to the monftrous Sums thai
have
Of ENGLAND, ij-j
have been expended, or given, for a Seat in Parlia-Qute
mtnt in much later Times.
May the aSih, Upon Speeches uttered in the
Houfe, ' That fome of the Members of it had
I ' laktn Money for their Voices, a Committee was
' appointed of all the Privy Council of that Houfe,
I ' with others, to meet that Afternoon, in the Siar-
' Chamber, to examine what Perfons, being Mem-
' bers of that Houfe, had taken any Fees or Rewards
' for their Voices, in the Furtheranceor Hinderance
* of any Bills offeied in the Houfe. Who, the
' next Day, reported, That they could not learo of
* any Member that had fold his Voice in the Houfe,
* otany way dealtunlawfully, or indireflly, in that
* Behalf. Thereupon, Mr A'ir/ra declaring. That
* he heard fomc had himin Sufpicion thai'Way,
^* juftified himfclf ; and was, upon the Queftion,
^R cleared, and his honeft and jnft Deal!nir,and great
^mF Pains-ta'Kuig declared antl affirmed by the Votes of
^P" the whole Houfe.' Ifthis Purgation, or Scrutiny,
^^»as truly made, it is a remarkable Inftancc of the
integrity and Incorrupiion of Parliaments in thofe
t)ay3.
But, we find that this Qjeen had fmall Occafion
to bribe her Parliaments ; they were ready enough
Togive her every Thing flie wanted, even without
asking. And, when, at any Time, they touched
Xipon her Prerogative, either in Religious or Civil
Matters, a haughty MelTage or two brought them,
tamely, to fubmit and, calmly, bear tlie Burden;
One Inftance more, amongft many in this Reign,
3s now before us. For, when this Parliament was
Sickling about a farther Reformation in Church-Af-
iaits, and had framed Articles for that Purpofe ;
'jc fent the Commons Word, ' That {he liked
* their Articles well enough, but would haveihem
* publifhedhy the Bifhops, under the Direflion of
P* her own Royal and Supreme Auihority ; poCiUve-
ly, inhibiting ihem from dealing in fuch Mat-
Queen
I c5 The T^frliatnentary HisTOKY.
Elizabeth. ^^ the printed Statutes are only the Titles a
57X. twenty-eight A£ls pafled this Seflton, in the Ca-
talogue of the Lords Journals are forty-one ; buf,
in the Supernumerary are none of any Moment,
except what have been mentioned. On the 29th of
Mayy a Bill for a general Pardon was read thrice, ip
the Houfe of Lords, and concluded. And in the
Afternoon of the fame Day the Queen came to the
Houfe of Lords, and being feated on the ThroDe,
the Speaker of the Iloufe of Commons came up will^
the Bills, and made a Speech on the OccafioQ.
The Particulars of which are not given, but the
"Journalijl hath preferved the Lord Keeper, Sir -Nj^
ch6la$ Bacon^% Anfwer to it, which is as follows :
The Lord Keep-
er's Speech at
the Clofe of the
Seiiion*
I
Mr Speaker^ ' . ,
THE Queen's Majefty hath heard, and dotfc
very well underftand, how difcreetly and
wifely you have declared the Proceedings of thk
Seflion in the Nether Houfe ; for Anfwer where-
of, an'd for the better Signification of what hxf
Majefty's Opinion is, both of Parliament Men
and Parliament Matters, this is to let you under-
ftand, her Majefty hath commanded me to fay
unto yci^, that like as the greateft Number of
them of the Lower Houfe, have in the Proceed-
ings of this Sefjon Ihev/'d themfelves modeft, dif-
creet, and dutiful, as becomes good apd loving
Subjefts, and meet for the Places that they be
called unto : So there be certain of them, altbo'
not many in Nui;nber, who in the Proceeding oi
this SefTion, have (hew'd themfelves audacious,
arrogant, and prefumptuous, calling her Maje-
fty's Grants and Prerogatives alio in queftioD,
contrary to their Duty and Place that they te
called unto 5 and contrary to the exprefs Adono*
nition given, in her Majefty's Name, in the Be-
ginning of this Parliament ; which it mighx^wy
well have become them to have had more Regard
unto. But her Majefty faith, that feeing they
will thus wilfully forget themfelves, they are o*
tberwife to be j^membred ; and like as her Ma^.
0/ E N G L A N D. 157
jefty allows and mud) commends tlie former Sort, (jgjj^j,;^^, .
(or the Relpefls afo^e^aid ; fo doih her Highnefs 1571,
utterly difalbw, and condemn ih^ fecond Sort,
for their aud:icious, arrogant, and isrefumpiuous
Folly, thus by f'-ip:rfluous Speech fpending much
Time in meddling wiih Matters neither pertain-
ing to them, nor with la theCapaciiy of their Un-
derftanding.
' And thus much concerning the Parliament of
ihe Lower Houfe.
' And as £0 the LorJs here of the Upper Houfe,
her Majcfty hath commanded me to let you
know, that her Highnefs taketh their Diligence,
Dilirreiion, and ordtriy Proceedings, to be luch,
as redoundcthmuch 10 iheir Honour and Com-
mendation'!, and much to her Comfort and Con-
folation. And here an End touching Parliament
Men.
' Now as to Parliament Matters, her Majefty
haih commanded me to open and declare unlo
you, her Opinion conceived therein, touching
Iwo Things ; the one is concerning the SuhJidy
and Benevolence, ihe cher is concerning the
Execution of the Laws. As to the former,
which concerneth the Subfidy and Benevolence,
her Pleafure is that I fliall fay unto you, that .in
your Dealings in that Matrer flie hath noted three
Things principally, every of them tending much
to the fetcing forth of your Benevolences and
goodwills; ihe (iritis, who it was that granted,
the fecond, i: the Manner of the grant-
ing, the third what it was that was granted. As
to the firft, her Majefty forgettelh not, that it is
a Grant made proceeding from the earneft Af-
feflions, and hearty good Wills, of her good,
dutiful, and obedient Subjects, for the greateli
Part: And therefore hath commanded me to lay
unio you, ihar (hemakech a greater Accompt of
the great good Wills und benevolent Minds of her ^
good and loving Subjects, than fhe doth of ten fl
Subfidies ; which, as it ought to bring and breed "
in u3 great Comfort and Delight, fo in rcafon rt
^ ou ht
Qaeen Elizabeth
J571.
I j8 The Parliamentary Histort
ought to move us (as I doubt not but it dothj ti
be and continue fuch as be worthy fuch an Eftima-
tion and Account. Again, her Majefty forgetied
not, that bcfides this is not a Gram by good and
loving Subjefts, that never made like Grant here-
tofore, but by fuch as have contributed fro«
Time to Time, as the neceflary Charges of the
Realm, and their own Sureties have required j
which doth much commend and fet forth tiiii
Benevolence of yours. And thus much concern*
ing the Perfons that have granted.
* And as to the fecond, which is the Manner of
granting, her Highnefs knoweth very well, that
before her Time thefe Manner of Grants have
fundry Times pad, not without Difficulties, witk
long Perfuafions, and fometimes not withoal
{harp Speeches, but this contrariwife without any
fuch Speeches or other Difficulty, hath been free-
ly and frankly offered and prefented ; and like ai
the former djd much extenuate their Benevolence
fo is this of yours greatly extended. It is written
and very truly, concerning Benevolences, ^
diu di/iulit diu noluit^ and therefore juftly con*
eluded. Bis dat qui cito dat ; ^ which Sayings fhe
cannot but apply to you, in the Proceedings of
your Grant.
' Again, Univerfality in Confent doth greatly
commend alfo your Dealings in this Matter ; for
a more univerfal Confent than was in this, wiU
hardly be had in any 5 and therefore much the
more commendable. And thus much touching
the Manner of the Gift.
* And to the third, which concerneth the Thing
given, her Majefty faith, that (he thinkelhit to
be as great as any heretofore hath been granted, -
and therefore you are to receive condign Thanb .
for it. And hath further willed me to fay, that
if the Service of the Realm and your Surcliei
would fo permit and fufFer, her Majefty would ai *
gladly, as readily, and as frankly remit tbi^
Grant, as you have freely and liberally granted it» ■
Thus I have remcmbred unto you the three-
• princely
0/ E N G L A N D, isp
princely Obfervations, lh.it her Maji^fty haih ron- qu(
' ceivedofthisBenevolcnceof yours, much lo your
' Comfort, and greaiiy to her M^.jefty's Honour ;
' to your Commendalion I'or giantirg, and to her
' Highnels for this honourable accepting ; for her
' Majefty flial! by this Grant receive no Com mo -
'dilyor Benefit, but rather a continuah Care in
' difpetiding and employing of it, about the necella-
' ry Affairs and Service of the Realm, and your
' Sureties ; and yet it is a great Comfort to her
' Majefty, to fee ynu thus frankly and freely join
' withherlelf, the Realm, and you,
' Now to the fecond and laft: Part, vhich con-
' cerncth the Execuiion of the Laws, which I
' trean to divide into two Paris ; the firft is the
■' EKccution of your Grant, ifie fecond is the Ex-
ecution of Laws, now made by you, and of the
relt made before of others. As to the former, I
, am to remember you, that like as it hath pleafed
the Queen's Majefty thus princely, honourably,'
and thankfully, to think of and accept this free
and liberal Grant of yours ; lb certainly, if the
like Diligence and Endeavour be not ufed, by fuch
ol you as Choice fhwll be made of by her Maje-
fty, for the due putting in Execution of this
Grant, then furely thofe that fliall be thus remifs,
or negligent, as by that Means her Majefty and
the Realm (hall be defrauded ol any Part of that
which hath been thus freely granted, fliall there-
by minifter juft occalion to her Highnefs to have
their Fideli'y and Truth towards her Majefty,
much to be fufpedted and charged ; which would
touch them very near. Neither is it an Offence
that would be pretermitted, butfevercly puniflied.
Why, if the Cafe were between common Per-
■ fons, can there be a greater Untruth and Un-
' ihankfulnets, than for a Man to make a Grant in
^ Appearance willingly and readily, and then to
' feek. wilily and craftily to defraud the fame Grant ?
* This amongft honeft Ptrfons is utterly delefted,
■ and if fo, how then might it be thought of be-
" tween the Prince and his Subjects, where for di-
'i^o nwTarliamsHtayy HisToar
, ' vers Rcfpeds this Bond is thrice as great ; Tor ss
' the Subjeft, by the Duty of his Allegiance, is to
' ferve the Prince truly, even fo is he by his Oath,
* and foisheby thegreat Truit, that by the Princes
' Choce is commiiced unto him, as a Commifli-
' oner in this Matter, above others. Plainly to
* fpeak, it may be affirmed, and that juftly, that
' fuch as be in Commiflion for the Execution of
* this Grant, and {hall deal partially, either for Fa- l^l^
' vour or for Fear, or -for Love to themfelves or f ^
' their Friends, or negligently or remiJly, ofPiiT'
* pofe whereby her Majefty (hall not be anfwete*!
* of what is due unto her ; fuch, I lay, may
* jufllybe charged as Men forgeiting their Duij''
' towards God, and their Sovereign, and to the**-
' Country. It cannot be denied, that Number"^
* refpeftonly their private Profit, and not theun
* verfal Profit of [he Realm, which is their Sutet^^
' and Defence,; ihey refpeift themfelves as privat^^
* Petfons, and not as Members of the Univerfa -'_
* Body i but their Imperfe^lion would be fuppliee
' by ihe Wifdom and Perfwafion of fuch, as ih—
' Queen's Majefty (hall commit Trufl: unto by he=='
' CommilTion, to fee this Subfidy well and itul;^^_y
' levied.
' And thus much for the Execution of tf^c^^^
' Grant. Now to the Execution of Laws, mat^^^s
* by you, and the reft made heretofore by others. ^
' am torememberyou, thatall thefe Labours, TrESS^"
* vels, and Pains, taken about the Laws no^'""^
' made, and before time taken about the reft her^^^'
' tolore made, and all the Charge fuftained by tJ-r^l^s
' Realm about the making of them, is all in vaii^ -'"'
* and Labour loft, without the due Execution »■ °'
' them. For, as it hath been faid, a Law withoi.^ ^'^^
* Execution is but a Body without Life, a CauC -^^'^
' without an EffeiSt, a Countenance of aThin^*^S'
' and indeed nothing ; Pen, Ink, and Paper, as. -^^'
' as much towards the Governance of the Conr*^'
' monweahh, as the Rudder ot Helm of a Shr *"P
' ferveth to the Governance of it without a Gove*^ '^^'
' ner, and as Rods fcrve for Correction withoi^^'"'
ENGLAND.
Were -it not meer Madnefs for
' to provide fair Torches to guide his going by
' Night, and when he (hould ufe them in the
' Daik to carry them unlight .' Or for one to pro-
' vide fair and liandljme Tools to prune or re-
' form his Orchard or Garden, and to lay them up
' without Ufe ? And what Thing elfe is it to make
* wholfome and provident Laws in fair Books, and
'tolay them up fafe, without feeing them execut-
'ed! Surely in Reafon there is no Difference be-
* tWEcn ihe Examples, faving that the making of
'Laws, without Execution, is in much worfe
' Cafe, than thole vain Provifions before rcmem-
i for thofe, alteit ihey do no Good,
' yet they do no Hurt ; but the making of Laws
' without Execution, does very much Harm ; for
* that breeds and brings forth Contempt of Laws,
■" and Law-makers, and of all Magiftrates ; which
' ii the very Foiindation of all Mifgovernance, and
■■Iberefore mull needs be great and heinous in thofe
'that are the Caufcrs of this j indecJ they are the
^Tery Cecal] ons of all Injuries and Irjullice, and
prf all Dilbrders and Unquieinefs in the Common-
"Wealth. For certain and evident it is, ihal the
iQueen'sMajefty, that is Head of the Law, doth
^1 meet for her M^jefty to do, for the due Ex-
•cution of ihejn. Firft, (be giveth her Royal
AiTentto the making of ihcm i the moll material
lOf them (he tummandeth to be proclaimed and
publilhed ; and yet ceafeth not there, but fhc
Klanccth out her CommiiJion into every of her
Shires, to Men which are or fhoiild be of greateil
Confideiation within the Limits of their Charge|
frhich for the better executing of them arc fworn
b fee the Execution of her Laws to them corn-
Bitted, within ihe Limits of their Commiflions )
Ind yet belides all rhis, by her Majefty's Com-
liundment, a Number of thcfe Juftices are yearly
*ncc at the leaft call'd into her Highneflea Star-
•Chamber, and there in her Majelty s Name, cx^
Wled, admonifhed, and commanded, to fee the
Ale Execution of their Charges.
- Vol. IV. L • And
Queen Elisabetlu
157*.
1 62 The Tarlijmefitary History
' And thus you fee her Majefty enafteth, pro-
daimeih, comroitteth, exhorteth, admoniihetfaj
and ccmmandcth from Time to Time; yea,
what can bedevifed meet for her Majefty to db,
for Help of this, that is kft undone ? Surely ixh
thing, to her Majefty*s Honour and Renowiv
Whereupon it followeth, necefl'arily and confe-
quently, that the whole Burthen of the Oflfeflcr
and Enormity mtrft light upon us, that are pat kr
Truft by her Majefty, to fee thofe Laws €»•'
cuted ; and certainly this Offence groweth gnr
or little, as the Truft committed for theEzfiO*'
tion of Laws, is great or little ; aiKl therefoie it
ftandeth us greatly upon, to ufe our whole Ounei
and Endeavours, for the Help of this hereaftcft
Were it poflible, trow you, that if Jufticesbekf
difpers'd through the whole Realm, as they tii
did carefully and diligently endeavour themielve^
according to the Truft committed unto them. Iff
their Sovereign, duly and truly to execute thm
Charge, as they be bound by their Oath to God|
and by their Allegiance to their Sovereign, and
by Duty to their natural Country, and rigibdf
confidei'd, by the Love they fhould bear to thtan
felvesand their Pofterity, (for if their Country do
not well, they (hall fare but illfavour^ilyj WW
it poflible, I fay, if this were fo done, thatLtwl
fhould be thusremifly and negligently executedl
No, doubtlefs. Is it not, trow you, a m(nifiilMi
difguifing, to have a Juftice a Maintaioer } 10
have him that fhould by his Oath and Dutf-llJ
^- forth JulUce and Right, againft his Oath offer "
Jury and Wrong; to have him that is
. chofen amongtt a Nuniber by a Prince toa|^
all Brawlings and Controvei fies, to-be a S01
and Maintainer of Strife and Sedition, by fwa]
and leading of Juries according to his Will ;
quitting fome for Gain, indifting others for
Uce, bearing with them as his Servant or Fl
overthrowing others as his Enemy j procuriof
Queftmonger to be of his Livery, or otherwUp
his Danger ; that his Winks, Frowningii •>
0/ E N G L A N D. 163
Countenances may diredtall Inquefts? Surely, QuMn
furelj), thefe be ihey that be Subverters of all
good Laws and Orders ; yea, that make daily the
Liws, which of their Nature be good, to become
laftruments of all Injuries and Mifchiefs ; thefe
be they indeed of whom fuch Examples would be
made, asoMhc Foundersand Maintainera of all
Enormities ; and thefe be thofe, whom, if you
cannot reform for their Greatnefs, you ought to
complain of them ; and like as this is not faid of
itiofe that be good, fo is this and much more to
be faid and done againft thofe that be evil.
' But here it may be faid, the Mifchief appears i
what is the Remedy ? To make all Laws pre-
Tenrly executed : I can hardly hope to make them
in better Cafe than now ihey be, and although I
had fuch Hopes, I could find no more Helps but
ihefe.
' The firft is, having great Care in the Choice
of the Officers: The fecond, by fiiarp Correfti-
onjimpofed upon fuch Offenders. There fhuuld
be throughout the Rtalm a Triennial or Biennial
Vifiiation in this Nature, made of all Temporal
Officers and Minifters, that by vitiue of their
Office have in Charge to fee Execution of Laws.
Bythis 1 mean, that the Queen's Majefty fhould
make Choice every fecond or third Year, ofcer-
lain expert and approved Perfons, to whom Com-
miflion ihould be granted, to try out and exa-
mine, by all good Means and Ways, the Offen-
ces of all fuch as have not feen to the due Execu-
tion of the Laws, and according to theOlfencd'
fo found and certified, to be fliarply punifhed
without OmifP.on or Redemption.
' Of Effedt like unio thi?, and to the like End,
was the Vifitation of the Church fiiil devifed,
whereof came in the Beginning great Gooddoubi-
lefe; and Realbn I fee none, but thata like Good
I ~ ought to follow upon a like Vilitation made a-
\ ^ inoogft Temporal Officers. Now to find out.
A * 'he Faults feemcth not hard, for ainongft many
j« * other Waysj there is one plain, evident andeafy ;
I Li * and
164 The Tarliamentary History
ih. • and that is where Offences do abound in any
' Country, contrary to ibe Laws, which the Jui-
' tices (hould lb reform, and there be nothing done
' by them for the Reformation of ihofe Offences ;
' I do not fee but ihis makes a full Charge of their
' Uiicarefulnefsand Ncglij^ence, whereby they are
* wellworihy, upon Certificate made, as is afore-
* faid, to be removed of all Governance, 10 their
* perpetual Ignominy, and 10 tlie Commendation
' of all ihofe that remain as good Officers.
' And befides, to fet forth other Pains upon.
* them, as by Law may be juflifiedj if this were
* once or twice done, 1 doubt not but the Examples
* following of the doing of it would caufe greatea
* Diligence to be ufed in the Execution of Laws-
* than now there is. And the better to underllani=
' which be ihofe Jultices that do oH'cnd, whg
' might there not be Order taken, that the Nam
* of every Juftice that hath not prolecuted any OE
* fender for any Offence committed contrary [
* any Law, which by the Commiffion that he is it —
' he is authorifed to fic punlflied, might be enm^—
' into fome Rolls ; and alio how often, and ho-~
* manyofthofe Kindof Offences he hath alfo prc=:
' fecuted for a Dechraiion of his Diligence, wher^
' by it might appear when fuch Vifitaiion fl)oi»-
* come, who hath been careful, and who hath be^K
* negligent, to the End thai the fiothful, drow^
* Drones, might be fevered from the diligent ufl
* careful Bees. And like as I could wifli this to ^k
' doneconcerning Officers of mean Degree, Co dc3*
*. defire that the fame Courfe might be taken w '^
% the great and greateft, for lo it (hould be equab^l
' But if there be nothing done therein, but Tbic — ^
* left as they have been, then mull you look to h^^
* your Laws executed js they have been, if w^
' worfe J for Words will not reform thefcMatt^^f
' as 1 have feen by Proof. And this is ihcSun^ '
' what I have lo fay at this Time, concerning *i
' Execution of Laws.'
1'bif
0/ E N G L A N D. itfj
This Speech being ended, and the Royal Adetit QutenEi^ubftb.
^ven to the Bills, the Lord Keeper, by her Ma- 'S7i-
Jelly's Command, diflblved the Parliament.
Mailers began now to be very critical with tiie
Qtieen of 5fo/i, who had been a PrilbnEf in £»;^- Proceedings re.
i^Wevcrfincc ihefled here for Proiedtion from hcr'^'nK " Maiy
>«bellious S'jbjeas ; who had now aiftually depofed ^'"^ *"''■
her, and fel her young Son James on the Throne.
Being weary of Reltraint, tlie unhappy Qiieen
«ad ufed many Endeavours to efcape, which were
then called Confpiracies againft the Englifl) Go-
vernment. In one of which the had drawn in the
Xluhe of AV/ortto allilt her; and, by a formal
Coniraft of Marriage between them, the Duke fell
lotoa Snare which etfeflually ruin'd him. He was
airaigoed for this and fome more Crimes laid to his
Qiatge, was iried by his Peers, and unanimoufly
ind guilty of High Treafon. Bui whilft this no-
lle Duke lay under Sentence of Death, another
" infpiracy was formed lo releafe him j which being
md out, and the Adlors in it executed, it was
lought ncceffary to call a new Parliament, the a nw Pariw-
_ 'try next Year after the Diffoluiion of the laft, to mt"' ('i''''-
i&me fuch Laws as might eftablifh the Q^-een and
the prefent Gooernmeni, on the moft laftingFoun-
daiioD.
It hath been hinted, more than once, in thefe
Inquiries, that the Jealoufy the Queen was under,
as Weil as all the Englijh Protejlatiti of thofe Days,
about the Queen of Sots, was the Occalion of her
Imprifonment ; n hich ended not but with the Lofs
cf her own Life and many of her Friends. A Par-'^nnoReKi" "4-
Ikment was fummoned hy Writs, dated at Green- ^
V4cb, to meet at IVfJhmnjhr, May 8rh, i "
iourtcerth Year of this Reign.
The Queen had alio fummoned four new Barons
to this Parliament, the Writs for calling them be-
ing cmec'd in the Lords Jaurnah; and, on the ift
Dsy of the Meeting, thty were iniroducedaccord-
inyy. Their Name-: were Ji/^n I>ord PmUt, of
I '^"^"^i Son lo the M,irqiiisof ll^imhfjler ; Henry
I Lwd CoTipton ; Henry Lord Ct'fniy, and Henry
I L j Lord
At Wcnminflar.
1 66 The Tarliamentary History
Queen Elizabeth. ^^^^ Norris. There is nothing elfe entered in the
1572. Journals of either Houfe, to be done on this Day ;
but Sir Simonds Dewes hath fupplied this Defcfl
from a MSS. of his own, which gives us the Lord
Keeper's Speech at the Opening of the Parliament
in thefe Words :
The Lord Keep*
•r*s Speech at
opening the Par-
liament.
THE Queen's Majefty, our moft dread afld
gracious Sovereign Lady, hath given .me
Commandment to declare unto you the Cauki
of the Summons of this Aflembly for a Pdrlti-
ment to be holden here at this Time ; whcreiii
albeit I mean to employ my whole Endeavour to
the utter moft of my Power and Underftandings
yet I muft needs confefs, that neither (hall yoa
have it done as the Majefty of this Prefertcc, nei-
ther as the Gravity of the Caufe requireth it to be
done. And yet the often Experience that I haft,
divers and fundry Times, had of the Queen's Ma-
jefty's great Benignity and Gentlenefs, in bearing
with and well accepting the Doings of thole thai
to her Service put their good Wills and DiUgeD-
ces ; and, befides all, the Proof of your Patiena
in the like Matter hath fo much encouraged oeKi
that (as I truft) it fhall be done although not cuo*
ningly nor eloquently, yet plainly and truly, k
as it may be well underftood and eafily born away
and therewith alio as briefly as the Greatnefs 01
fuch a Matter will fuffer. True it is, the origi
' nal and principal Caufe is, that Things there pra
pounded may be orderly and diligently debated
oeeply confidered, and thereupon wifely cofr
eluded. And to the End, alio, that thofe CoB*
clufions fo made, the rather for fuch an univc^
fal Confent as in Parliament is ufed, remain fiin
and ftable.
* Now the Matters that are in this ParliamiOl
to be proved, do confift altogether of two
The former is in Matters of Religion, for
better Maintenance of God's Honour and'i
The fccond in Matters of Policy, for fK*"
perfect upholding and eftablifliing of tf^
Cir E N G L A N D. 167
* Majefty's Royal Eftate, and the Prefervation ofQgeenHixabctli,
* the Common- Weal committed to her Charge. isji,
' The Caufes of Religion are again to be divided
* into two, that is, into Matter concerning the
* good Government of the Subjcdls at Home,
* and into Caufes of Defence againft the Enemy
* Abroad.
* And thus by this Proceis you fee you are, as
' indeed you ou^t,
' Firft, To confider, in this your Aflembly, of
' God's Caufe, which faithfully, fincerely and dili-
' gently done, like as it cannot but bringSuccefs to
' all the reft, fo likewife lukewarm, deceitful and
' double-dealing therein cannot but breed, nourlHi
' and bring forth Factions, Divifions, Seditions, &r.
^ to the great Peril and Danger of all the reft.
* And the greater that the Perfonages be in Autho-
' rity and Dignity that thus deal, the greater of
* Neceffity muft be the Danger of the Oammon-
* Weal. And becaufe God's Law and Doftrine,
* being the firil Law and Branch, muft light upon
' ourfelves that ought to take the BeneBt of it, as
' firft ^nd chiefly upon Minifters of this Do£trine,
* eiihei for not preaching and teaching by Word
* and Example of Life fo purely and reverently as
* they might, or elfe not fo diligently as they were
* bound. And
* Secondly, Upon us for not hearing it fo defir-
' oully, or elfe hearing it and forgetting it, or not
* following it fo effeftuaily as we fliould.
* Thirtily, For that many of us of the Laity do
' not yield and give thatEftimstion, Countenance
' and Credit to the Minifters of his Dodlrinc which
of Right they ought to have, and that many
greatly hurt the fetting forth of it : For tliis one
Thing may be holden firm by the Rules of good
Government ; that all Officers both Spiritual and
' Temporal that have Governance, during the
' Time of their Offices, ought to be prefervcd in
' Credit and Eftimation. For how can any Tiling
* be well fct forth by them that want Credit ? Mai -
Q^een Elizabeth.
1 68 The Parliamentary Hisrofif
ry, for my Part, let the Time of their CMfcci
laft as their Doings do defervc.
' Fourthly, Becaufe the Want of the Number of
Minifters that ought to be and be not, and for the
Infufficiency of thofe that be for divers Refpefl^,
But therein the Queen's Highnefs doubtcth no-
thing, but all that which the Difficulty of Time,
in fo great a Scarcity of Men meet to be Mipi-
fters, will fuffer to be done, (hall by my liOidt
the Bifhops be done in this Behalf, and that n
fpeedily, diligently and carefully as can be- Anl
if any Perfon admitted, or to be admitted to tlui
Miniftry, (hall hereafter, either of Arrog^ncy or
Ignorance, (hew any ftrange Dodrine, contrarj
or varying from that which by common Confcii
of the Realm is publiflied, to the Breach of Uni-
ty, that he by thofe to whom it appertsunedu
fharply and fpeedily be reformed, all Favour mi
Fear fet apart.
* Thus much for Doftrine. You are moft ear-
neftly alfo to think and confider of the Difci|diii^
of the Church, as one of the ftrong Pillars of Reli-
gion, which doubtlefs at this Time hruh twc
great L^cks. The flrft the Ipfiperfedtion of Law|
lor the Countenance of it, which hath grown ch
ther by reafon that fundry of the Ordinances mad?
for that Purpofc, be difufed or otherwife hafC
not their Force ; or elle for that moft of theLai»|
that remain be fuch as for their Softnefs few Ma
mnke Account of. i
* The fecond Imperfection i^ the Slothfulnct
Corruption and Fearfulnefs of the Ecclefiafticil
Miniftcrs and Officers in the due Execution of
thofe Laws that be good and yet continue. Tnie
apd too true it is, that hereby at this prefenttwo
preat Enormities daily grow ; The former thit
Men of Wealth and Power, given to be evil, nnf
in their Countries live in what diflblute and licco*
tious Life they lift ; and both Temporalty and Spi-
ritualty offend daily in all the Branches ofSimonyi,
the very Canker of the Church, without fetfn|'
Qf tjii? Dilciplmc, :
r 0/ E N G L A N D. iSj
' The fecond, That many of the laudable RitesQufcnEliubetfc.
* and Ceremonies of the Church, or pertaining to *S7'-
* the Miiiifters of the lame agreed upon by com-
* mon Confenc, the very Ornamenis of our Reli-
I* gion, arc very ill kept oral leaft have loft a great
* Part of their Eftimation. And here [through
* the many Faults for Want of Oifcipline) to re-
•" member you of one particular Matter of great
i' Moment. How cometh it to pafs that the com-
<f man People in the Countiy univerfally come fo
* feldom to Common- Prayer and Divine Service j
i"* and when they do come, be many Times fo
* vainly occupied there, or at leaft do not there as
'* they fhould do, but for Want of this Difcipline?
* ' And yet to the Help of this there was at the
' lift Parliament a Law made, but hitherto no
' Man, no, no Man, or very few, hath feen it
* executed ; as plainly to fpeak. Laws for the Fur-
' therance of this Difcipline unexecuted, be Rods
' for Correilion without Hands, It cannot be de-
* * nied but as Supeiftition is every Way to be abhor- >
' red for Fear of Idolatry ; to certainly the Lois
' of this Difcipline is always to be avoided, left clfe
'Contempt (that neceflarily muft follow) may
' caufe Irreligion to creep fafter in than a Man
* would thinli. Forof alloiherit isthe moft pefti-
' lent and pernicious Thing, never luffered nor al-
' lowed in any Common- Weal, nay not amongft
' the Heathens that were moft barbarous. But
' here it may be faid the Mifchief appeareih, where
' is the Remedy ? and that it were better not opcn-
' cd in fuch a Prel'ence, than opened without the
' Remedy both devifed and declared,
' In mine Opinion the Remedies may eafily be
I • devifed : All the DifBcuIty is in the well execut-
' ingof them. As firft, if the chief Parfonages of
I ' this Realm, both in Town and Country, would
' give good Example, it cannot be but it would be
' much to the remedying of a great Part ot this
* Mifchief.
'Secondly, The dividing every one of the Dio-
, * cefes according to their Greainefs iiilo Deanarle?,
170 The Tarlidf^eHtary ViisToKY
%eeii£]ittbeth. ^ ^ ^ I^ow commonly they be ; and the commit
157^ ^ ting of the Deanaries to Men well chofen,^ is 1
^ think commonly they be not: And then the keq^
* ing of certain ordinary Courts at their prefer^
* Times for the well executing of thofe Laws of
' Difcipline, as they ought to be, with afiireCoo-
* troulment of thofe inferior Minifters by the BHbop
^ or his Chancellor, not biennially or trienokdlfi
* but every Year twice or thrice : Whicl^ Ufe of
* NeccflUy without very great Difficulty may do
* much in very fliort Time to the Reformation of
^ this i the chief Officers Ecclefiaftical all being ftfj
^ well, and - the Laws themfelves being iirft made
' fufficient and perfedt, which in this Parliament
* may very well be brought to pals, 4
* And, becaufc the Proceedings of Matters m
* Difcipline and Doftrine, do chiefly concern my
* Lords the Bifhops, both for their Underlbu^
^ ing and Ecclefiaftical Fun£lioni\ therefore the
* Queen's Highncfs looketh that they, being cal-
^ led together here in Parliament, fhould take tlie
* chiefeft Care to confider and- confult of ihcfc
* Matters. And if in their Conference they found
* it behoofuU to have any Temporal Adls made^
* for the amending and reforming of any of thcfe
* Lacks, that then they will exhibit it here in Par-,
* liament to be confidered upon, and fo Gkdias,
* Gladium juvabit^ as before- time hath been ufeds
< forefeeing always that all Laws and Ordinance! n
* for this Matter of Doftrine and Difcipline be u* -i
^ niform, and fo one Sort throughout the whole ^
* Realm. And thus much concerning ReligioOtJ
* being the firft Part, J
' Now to the Second, that is. Matters of PoR* \
* cy. And herein firft for the Government 6t'
* the Subjedls at Home ; the Lacks and Default! %]
* whereof, as in Difcipline fo in this, ftand altogc* J
' ther in the Imperfedlion of Laws, or elfe the J
* Fearfulnels, Slothfulnefs, and Corruption of ,
« Temporal Officers, that ou^ht to fee the due
* Execution of them. For the Help of the for* ^
< mer> you are to examine whether any Laws al- '
ready j
» foil are ajfo f„ ',° ™ "'liole Sa„ . """ni
: sS;ti?.f<^r'^»TArSra°;-
WeiteTh.? ""^ "• Vou ,,°"';f""">a be for
. «iat
'Jie erear r- ^'P ™t this ■ tj, ,. ' wngs, r
WoHi. Ccrrm.i "'•"'>' '= for il. k ™ Second,
172 The Parliamentary HrsTORT
^ttnElittWtli,* every fecond or third Year of certain expert and i
^S'*' * approved Pcrfcns, to whom Commiflion fhnuld j
* be granted to try out and examine, by all Ways ^
' and Means, the Offences of ail luch as have not j» ,
* feen to the due Execution of the Laws accordingg^a
' to the Offices and Charges committed to them by^i_)
' ihe Prince. And the Offences fo found aii — -^
* certified to i>e fliarply punilhed without Remil^ "-
* fion or Redemption. Of Effedt much like [his=^ ,
' and to the like End, was the Vifuation ofth. <
' Church fifft devifed ; whereof, in the Beginnin ^
' of it, came great Good doubtlefs ; and Reafon i
* fee none but the like Good ouglit to follow upo- xi
' like Vifitaiion made among Temporal Officers.
' And the old Commiflion of Oyer tended fom^r--
* what to this End. 1 doubt certainly if the Law^.'s
* and Statutes ofihis Realm fliould not indifferently^,
' iiprighily, and diligently, be put in Execuiic^n
' (as my 'IVull is they (hall) efpecially in the great
' and open Courts of this Realm, then my BL:m-r-
' then, I confefs, is t qua I with ihegreateftj axnd
' yet, for my Part, i would gladly every Yearh^ar
' of, and yield to fuch a Comptroller.
' Now to the laft and greatelt, which is the H^ e-
' fence againit the foreign Enemy abroad, and 3iis
* Confederates, brought up and bred amongft "s
' ourfelves; becaufe thefe Matters be by reafon n*:^^^
* chiefly in Hand, and that ilic Dealings of the o ^Jt-
' ward Enemy be Matters that go 10 the whole, f»-nd
* that this Prefence you know reprefenteih t!ie
' whole : Therefore in all Congruity it fcem^sih
* Reafon, that all we, for, and in the Name of ^^ .
* whole, confiJer carefully of this Caufe, and |^ ^*''
' prelent Affilh\nce for theHelp ofit And to '•''^
' End you may be more able to give good Co^fc-"''
' lel and Advice therein, it hath bten thought ti^^^^'
* I fhould fummarily and fhortly make you pr J"?
' of ihel'c Proceedings, which iliall be the better ^u-in-
* flood if I bcy:in at the Root, as I intend :
■ This it is : The Qjcen'i Maj^fty, hi bet cc^ "
' ing to the Crown, lindmg this her Realm
■ taeeed and torn State, and yet in Wars y
ni£^V
i
0/ E N G L A N n 173
mighty Enemy, the chief Fortrefs of the fameQ^jt,
loft, to [he Realm's great Difhonour and Weak-
ening ; her Frontier Towns not lufficiently foi-
tified, the Revenue of the Crown greatJy Ipoiled,
ihe Treafure of the Realm not only wafted, but
the Realm alfo greatJy indebted ; The Land of
Ireland much out of Order : The Staple and
Store ot all Kind of Munition for the Realm's
Defence marvelloully conlumed : The Navy and
Sea-Matters nothing in the State they now be,
was forced to give Ear to a Peace With fome o-
ther Conditions than eli'e it is like her Highnefs
would come to, to the End that thefe dangerous
Defaults might be in the Time of Peace luffici-
ently for the Security of the Realm provided for.
Whereupon indeed her Highnela (Peace being
concluded) entered into the reforming and fup-
plying of moft of all thofe great Lacks, and for
iJie Well-doing of them hath not forborn to take
any Care or Pains, neither haih the fticked for the
compafling of this both to fpend her own Trea-
fure, to lell her own Lands, to prove her own
Cretlit at Home and Abroad to the uitermoft,
and all this for our Sureties and Quiet.
' Thus have you heard the Sum of tbofe Pro-
ceedings ; whereby it is plain and evident, [hat
is our moft Dear and Gracious Sovereign Lady,
hath, for the Prefervation of Common Qiiiet, and
for cur own Surety againft the Common Enemy,
forborn no Care or Travel in the deviling ; no
more hath (he Chaige or Expence in the per-
forming. I may fafely affirm it, becaufe I am
Well able to prove it, that the Charges of the ma-
naging of thele Affairs, and that that hath been
done fince ihe Queen's Majefty came to the
Crown, in fupplymg the Dangers aforemention-
ed, amount to as much as two of the greateft
Subfidies that I can remember ; a Matter not
poflibly to be born for that which is_paft, nor to
be continued for that which is to come oy the or-
dinary Revenue of the Crown, and yet of necef-
fity to be done, except all fwhich God forbid;
' fhouli
174 T^JS Tarltamentary Ht&TOKT
^MniliBibrtli. ' fiiould run to Ruin: If when any Part of the
'S7*- ' Natural Body luppenelh to be in Danger, the
' Head and every Pirt hafteth to the Relief ; what
' wouM then be done, trow ye, when Peril is of-
' fered, that the Head ftiould take ihe whole Care,
' and bear the whole Uurthen, and all ihe Mem-
' bers remain uncareful and uncharged therewith ?
' How lighlx Burthen it is when it is born of ma-
' ny, is underftood of us all. But hereof I make
* no Stay, becaufe there is no Doubt your Good-
* Wills and Towardnefs upon thefe Confiderati-
* ons be fuch, as ihis bit Speech of mine needeth
* not, and fo doiibtlefs the Queen's Highnefs taketl"
' il. And yet your Wifdoms well know, thai
' the Office of this Place which I occupy, craveih
* thus much to be faid at my Hands ; and for thai
* Purpofe chiefly could I truft you take it, and no'
' for any Neceflity to draw them by Perfuafior
* that oiherwife ot iheir own Difpofiiion be for-
. ' ward enough. The Declarations of the Procced-
* ings being uttered, I do all'ure myfelf to fuffice tc
' Men of your Underltanding and Inclinaiiom
* For how can a Man think that any is lb void a
' Reafon, that he would not gladly offer any Am
' againft a Foreign Enemy, ihat he were able ic
' make for the Safety of his own Country, his So-
' vereign, himfelf, his Wife and Children ; efpeci-
' ally when by Reafon it is plain, that the Queen's
' Majefty hath already, and daily doth employ her
' own Treafure, yea, and her Lands and Credit,
* not in any glorious Triumphs, luperfiuous and
' fumptuous Buildings of Delight, vain and charge-
' able Emball'ages, neither in any other Matteisof
' Will and Pleafure; I mean, no Expence to he
' noted in a Prince of thirteen Years Reign, but as
' far as Man can judge in the Service of her Realm
' a:idnecellary Defence of her People, and for the
' Annoyance of the Enemy. Yet hath it been
' feen e'er this, that Prince's Wills, Pleafurcsand
' Delights have been followed in Expcnces as Ne-
' ceffities. And now, God be thanked, the Doings
* have been fuch fmcc the Queen's Highncfs'i
' Reign
0/ E N G L A N D. ijs
' Reign, that to the irdiRerent Man it will be
probable and plain, that the Relieving of the
Realm's Necefliiy is become ihe Prince's Delight ;
a pod Change, God continue it, a marvellous
good Example for lis to follow, and yet itis fcanC
crdible how long it was, and in the End with
what Difficulty the Queen's Majefty came to a-
gree that this Example fliould be followed by us,
in being content that this Parliament fliould be
fummoned, that it might be moved, that the
Realm might contribuie to the Realm's Defence ;
wiih fuch Difficulty indeed, that if any other
Way could have been devifed (her Honour and
Realm's Surely laved) this had never been at-
lempled : So loth flie is to any offenfive Matter
by Burthen or Charge, that if any other Way
could have been devifed, this had not been : And
fo, from her own Mouth, flie commanded me
lo fay unto you.
' Oh what a Grief it is to a Prince {trow youj
when he findelh fuch Want, that he is not able
foioconfider of [he Service of his Servants and
Subjedts i this dangerous and neceflary Service,
S! their Deferls do crave ! knowing that moft
commonly the very Life and Heart of the Ser-
vant and Soldier, which fo often offereth himfelf
lo the Cannon, [he Pike, the Fiie, iieitherover-
ihrown or fet up as a Regurd is had of his Perils.
Except there be fome odd Men (as ihey call themj
of that Perfeflion, that Virtue and Wcll-Doing
is their Mark, and not Reward, who hold for
firm, that Re^i faBi Mercti eji fedjfe tatitutn^
but R^ra avis in terris, iSc. Yea, thofe are fo
rare as Counfel cannot be given that Princes
Service fliould hang on the Hdpof fuch Hope,
and yet thefe be the petfefleft and beft, but lh«
World is not ferved by fuch. To give good
Words is a good Thing, but often ufed, albeit
never fo cunningly, without Deeda of Service, is
reputed but as Wind, and is indeed dare verba.
Marry, Power ferving not, then it deferveth
great CommendaUons : f^r it is as much as can
'be
Quwn ElinbedL
ty6 The Parliamentary Histoblt
^*57»» * thinketh little the greateft Number. But to- k
Prince who thinketh thus much, and daily think-
eth and feeletb of it, what a tormenting Ttoublr
is fuch a Want think ye ? Thefc Wants whM*
they happen, v^ould besought to be moft hddoi.*,]
But here 1 have troubled yoU further than (
meant, or perchance needed.
^ And thus no further to hinder you, but
make an End. . You have heard, firft, the Gai
of this Aflembly. Secondly, What I think tnceC'
to be remembred. Thirdly, What for the Go-'"''
vernaiKe of the Subjed at Home, and what faatb'
been done for the Diefence of the Enemy Abroad
your Office and Duty is to be careful to
of thefe Matters, which I have the rather fum*
marily remembred than effectually difcomfed*
upon. The former pertaineth to my 0£ke
Remembrancer. The fecond to you as Execu'-'
tors of thefe Remembrances. And becaufe yott
of the Nether Houfe cannot, without a Heidi'
thus do ; therefore it refleth, that you, accordingi
to your antient Order, of yourfelves chufc foae
wife and dtfcreet Man, who, after he hath been
by you chofen and prefentcd, and that PrefenttQ-
on by the Qyeen*s Majefty allowed, ihali then
be your Speaker, bfc*
Robert Bell, Efq} ^^^^ the loth. The Houfe of Commons^
chofen Spnker. fented Robift BelU Efq; for their Speaker, wl
with the ufual Ceremonies, was allowed (a).
no further Notice is taken of the Speeches coOhI
monly made on that Occafion.
On Monday^ May 12th, an Entry b made
the Lords, * That this Day, by Advice and
* fent of the whole Houfe, a Committee was
* pointed to confer with fuch Members of
^ Lower Houfe, as it ihould pleafe them toapi
^ for the more ipeedy and better Diredum
* them in the Great Matter touching the
{m) Aft«wards kn^fl^ted^aizd made Chief-'gtroa of rix Eittofii
^ENGLAND. 177
' The Conunictee conuftcd of ibe fol-
■ds; 1571.
idiifiiopsof CanUrhuTj and liri; the
4fri, Kint^ Warufter^ Suffix^ /Fsrwui^
dkffitrj and EJix i the Biihops of Lm-
i^ir^ Efy^ Uncobiy and Rmbifiir ; the •
Dberliin Burkigb^^vik the Lardi Grvf,
WifUw9rtb^ Norths and CkuMs. The
linted for the Meeting was the Scar-
at eight o'clock the next Momixtt.
^mmal of the Commons arc theNamet^J^^'*'^ ^
dmmittce appointed bjr them» which i£,^^^jj
Mr. Pefham.
Mr. Yihirtiiu
Mr. Ctf%.
Mr. Hemagi.
Mr< Charles Howard.
Mr. Hatton.
Mr. iC'fiiff.
Mr. Sihlf/.
Mr //^«. KfioBis, fen*
Mr. /ir;r. Kiulks^ jun^
Mr. Pf//r WfHtw9rth. •
Mr. Sampoli.
Mr. Norton.
Mr. WtlUam Moor.
Mr. 7f*« Vaugbaru
Mr, fiitf. Randall
Mr. y^^/r Vaugban di
Caermartben.
Mr. Greenfield^ tea.
Mr. Charles Somerjet.
Mr. /&«. Killegrew.
Mr. TfiUiamGerrard.
Mr. Dalton^ and
Mr. Peacock.
mo more of this Conference in the y^tt/v
Loids, nor what was done in it* rdi-
nilarijr, to the Queen of Sr^/, 'till If^^
irhcn a sew Committee of Lofds was ap
IV. M
Qier.
moller.
odlor of the
■
cellor of the
I Deputy of
r Berkeley.
Fawlet.
Scott.
Upton.
' Jrnold.
'bynne.
ues.
i Howard.
^I^tljon,
rney of the
der of London,
Dt Manwood.
VLXGeffrj,
in.
178 The Parliamentary History
QurenEiiwbrth. pointed, about the Tame Matter, which were 01^
J 571. ly the Archbiftiop of Cjwf^r^arj', the Earls of Sips
lex and Le'aefier, the Bifliup of Lir.mln, and it-
Lords Burleigh and Grey. The Refult of whi^
was, thai, on the laft Day of the Drne Month, ,
Bill was brought in, and read a lirft Time, touchir^
Afarj', the kte 5««//& Queen, yune ihe 4th, ihe
Bill was read a third Time, and palled the Houfe of
Lotds, with this Addition to the Title, JBil/
tauching Mary, Daughter and Heir of James 'i'
Fi/ih, late King of Scotland, csmmmily tailed Ih
^ueen of Scots. This Bill was fentdown to the
Commons, who kept it until the 26th of the fame
Month, and then returned it, concluded. But
tho' the Bill went fo currently thro' the tffo
Houfes, fhc Queen would not fuffer it to pafs into
a Law } there being no Mention of fuch an A&,
in the Catalogue at the End of this Seffion, nor in
the printed Statutes. Fur which Reafon, we ate
much in the Dark what were the Contents of this
extraordinary Bill. My Camliden only writes, that,
at the End of the laft Parliament, (but miftakenly (ot
This;) ' It was propofed, that if the Queen ofScpli
'. fhould, again, offend againft the Laws of England,
* (he fhould be proceeded againit, by Law, as if
' ihe were the Wife of an £iigli//> Peer. But the
' Queen, interpofing, her Authority, preveniKl
' the enacting theteof(^).'
However, tho' this Ai5t did not pafs, yet ihef*
were two other very feveie Laws made againft all
who had Defigns in Favour of the Queen of Sciis.
On the igihof ^flj'a Bill w.is read the firft Time
in the Houfe of Lorcb, for Puniihment of all fuch
39 (hall rtbellioufly lake or detain, from the Queen')
M.ijelly, any Caille, Towfr, Fortteis, Ships, oto-
ther Munition of War. This pafled inio a Law )
and, by it, fome of the Articles were made Felonjt
and others High Trcuoii. On the aift, a Bill was
brought in, ami read againft all luch as Ihall confpitB
or praiUfe the Enlargement of any Prifoners. Thii
Aa
(t J Camidcii In Kcnicr, p. 4j6.
r
0/ E N G L A N D. \y^
M dKlared, ' That if anyPerfon fhouldgoabout Quee
' 'I* deliver any Man, imprilimcd upon the Queen's
' ^rii for TieafoDj or Sulpicion of T/ealbiij be-
' fWe his Arraignment, the faid Perfon (hould for-
' ^this Life Eftate, and be imprifoncd during the
' Queen's Pieafjre. If arraigned, he fliould incjr
' ihe Penalty of Death ; if condemned, the Penal-
' ty of High Trealbn."
Mr. Cambdcn obferves [i], thnt the Severity of
'hffe Laws was only iiecellary for the Times j and
tile Parliament thought fit to malie them temporary,
')ia[ is, for the Queen's Life. He adds, that lb
Kany Dcfigns were fet on Foot to deliver the Duke
^^Nerfolk, out of the 7iwsr^ as haltned his Execu-
lion, which had been put ofFfor near four Months;
audit was not "till after palling the kft Afl, that
liieAddrefles of the Houfe of Commons, the Re-
nonftrances of the Privy Council, and ihe Impor-
luniiy of Preachers, by fuggefting the Greainefs of
'te Danger fhe wa.s in, could overcome die Queen's
Clemcijcy. Tn fine, the Duke was beheaded on a The E
Saffi>|d, on Tiuvr-W//, June the zd ." He died Norfolk
With great Courage and Majinanimity, amidft a ''"''='*■
Wft Crowd of forrowful and weeping Spectators ;
forit is incredible, fays our Author, ' how dearly he
was beloved hy the Populace ; whole Good-
Will he had gained by a Munificence and Affabili-
ly fuitable to fo great a Prince.' It is probable the
Queen was fatisfied with this Sacrifice, alone, for
wc find no A<^ to attaint his Blood or Pofteriiy
piflcd i a Circumftance we have never obferved
before in Cafes of the like Nature.
At this Time the Nation was exceedingly pef-
tercd wilh Rogues, Vagabonds, and Sturdy Beggars,
hy whom feveral Murders, Theft?, and other great
Outrages were committed (li . It was therefore
iruiffed, by this Parliament, that every Perfon, a-
bovclhe Age of fourteen, being taken begging, or
Wandriiig about as a Vaurant, fur the firft Time,
M z (hould
ft) Cambdin in Kmnrr, p. 44O.
(J)UJli>iiJbud-iaui,a. |>. iiiS.
Smt^iei »i lar^t, 14E111.C.V.
1 ^ u-
■ • '■ o^ ■
So . Jt^ t armament ary History.
.. .K Ruined ihro' theGriftle of ihe Righi Ea
"ivi Iron of an Inch Compafs, i^c.
. .'wv.in> as if this Parliament was called only c
. V I SancUon to the Duke's Execution ; for th
^v-.umi was but Ihori; about fix Weeks, and no A<!
. ..ny ConreiiueiKe, except what are before men
;,ned, pail'ed in it. A Cafe of Priviledge wa.
. icut;,ht before the Houfe of Lords, by the Lord
i>o;/:iielIj who had been attached, by a Writ, out
vu Chancery, at the Suit of one Haverner. The
Lords adjudged the Attachment void and con-
uaiy to thcantient Privileges of the Peerage ; but
o, that at any Time hereafter, by the Quectt's
Prerogative, or by the common Law and Cuftom
oL the Realms, or any Statute Law, or fufficient
Prtfiueni, the Perfons of any of the Lords of Par-
liament, in fuch Cafes as this of Lord Cromwelt^
ought to be attached, or attachable, iffo (hewed and
wairanied as above j this Order, or any Thing,
therein contained, to the contrary notwithftanding,
Having done with the Proceedings of the Lords,
wc muft go back, as ufual, to thofe of the Commons.
After the Committee for the Conference was ap-
pointed, we find no Particulars entered, relating to
it, 'till fome Weeks afterwards, which will appear
in the Sequel. In the mean Time, on the i6th of
May^ a Motion was made in the Houfe, ' Whether
it was convenient that the Commons fhouldjoin
with the Lords in a Petition to her Majefty,/or
the Execution of the Duke of Norfolk. Or, that
they Ihould only fignify to her Majefty, their Rc-
folution and Opinion that neceflary Execution was
to be done ? * Upon putting the Queftion, it was
agreed by all, that their general Relolution. was
propereft to be fignified to her ; aird not by Way of
Petition or Direction from this Houfe.
On the 19th, the Attorney of the Court of
Wards, in the Name of the whole Committee, oft
the Great Affair of the Queen of ScotSj reported to
the Houfe their Conference with the Lords.
Which done, after many Speeches, it was upon the
Queftion, refolved, for the better Safety and Pre-
fer vatioD
0/ E N G L A N D. i8i
I lavition of her Majefty's Peifon and Government, Qu„n El
I w proceed againft the SiTsf/ijft (^een in [he higheli 157
I Degree of Treafon ; and tlierein to touch her, as
"EllinLifeas in Tiile and Dignity; and this with
sIlpofBble Speed, and witli the whole Voice of the
Home.
The AnnaUJi of the Refarmation, under this
(^n, hath given us a very warm and long
Speech, made againft this unhappy Lady and her
Title to the Englifly Cro\vn, by an anonymous
Memberof the Houfi; of Commons ; but, at what
Tine he does not mention. He is miftaken alfo in
)^cing this Speech in the Debates of thelaftParlia-
Bent, inflead of this ; for the Atfdir had not then
I Parliamentary Inquiry inio it. This Author
mnfcribed it froma Manufcript in the Couan Libra-
iy[f). It is obfervable, that the Stream ran all one
Wgy at this Time ; the poor Qticcn of Scots having
not one Friend, or Advocate, either within Doors
or without, that durft endeavour to item the
Tide, or, openly, to fay one Word in her Fa-
Tour.
A Bill for Rites and Ceremonies in the Church, a Mcdif
bad been read in the Houfe three Times jwhen, on '^'n™"'
iSaj the 22d, the Speaker declared to the Houfe, i^^alin
th»t it was her Majefty's Pleafure, that from hence-
fonJi no Bills concerning Religion Ihould be prc-
fcned, or received into this Houfe ; unlcls the fame
fhould be firft coiiiidered and approved by the
Clergy, And further, that het Majefty defircd to
fee the two laft, read in the Houfe, touching Rites
*Bd Ceremonies. . On which, it was order'd, that
4e laid Bills fhould be delivered 10 her, by fuch
wembersas were of the Privy- Council.
* The next Day the Treafurer of the Houfhold
reported to the Houfe the Delivery of the two Bills
of jlites and Ceremonies to her Majefty ; together
with the humble Rcqaeftof thisHoufe, inofthurably
' to befecch her Highnefe not to conceive ill Opini-
on of this Houfe, if fo it were that her Majefty
M 3 iboulJ
') Slryps''ijty^snJix,Val II, p, 9. ai Fill'*,
i8i The 'Parliamcniary Histort.
QgcenCUubctb. ftiould not like well of the ("aid Bills, or of ihe Par
i57»- ties ibat preferred them. And declared further
that her Majefly feemed utterly to mifiike tZji
firft Bill, and him that brrught the fame int£
ihe Houfc; and that her Highnels exprefs WjH znd
Pleafure was, that no Preacher or MinilVer (hould
be impeached or indifted. or otherwifc molefted or
troubled, as the Preamble of the faid Bill did pur-
port: Adding Ihefe comfortable Words farther, that
her Majefty, as Defender of the Faith, will aid and
maintain all good Proteftants lo the difcouraging of
all Papills.'
The Bulinefsof (he Queen of ScoH and the un-
fortunate Duke of Norfolk, having been Img
canvafledby the CommittEsof both HoLifes j they,
ai length agreed upon a joint Peiidon to the Queen.
And, on the 28th of May, her MajCfty was aiten-
f'ed by the faid Committees who prefented ber
a Petition with Reafons to prove, that it no[ only
confifted with Juftice, but alfo with the Queens
Honour and Safety, to proceed Criminally againft
the pmendid Scatiifi> Qiieen (/).
On the fame Day, as it feems, the yeurn,]liji tells
us, * That Mr. Treafurer reported to the Houfe,
that hennd certain Others of the Commiiice, chofen
by ihemfelves, did prefcntly come fi om het Majefty j
and that her Majefty doth very thankfully accept
the Good-Wiil and 'Zeal of this Houfc, In their
Carefulnefs for her Majefty'a Safety and Prefervati-
on; and that as her Majefty ihlnkeih the Courfe
chofen by this Houfe, and wherein the Lords have
joined with this Houfe, lo be the heft and furcft
Way for her M^efty's Prefeivation and Safety in-
deed J yet her Highnefs for ceriain Refpeifls by her-
felf conceived, thinketh good for this Time to de-
fer, but nor to reject that Courfe of Proceeding as ■
yet; and in ihe mean Time, with all convenient
Speed, to go forward in the great Matter againft the
ScoliiJIi Q^ieen with a fecond Bill, being the other
Part of the faid Choice heretofore offered to ihii
Houfc.
(7) See tljcPetiti™ and Reafons io D'Eiep't Jtur^tl,, p. jij
J
f "^
P 0/ E N G L A N D. 183
ftoafc. And that her Majefty minding in lint Bill, Queen EUi»l>tth.
by any Implication or Drawing of Words, not to 'i'*"
W the Sccttijh Queen either enabled or difabled
'■a or from any Manner of Title to the Crowo of
this Realm, or any other Title to the Came what-
Mm touched at all, wiUeih that ihe Bill be iitft
tiiawn by her Learned Counfel, an^l by them pen-
fltd before the iaine be trcared ot or dealt in, in this
Hotife. And that in the mean Time of bringing
in of the f.iid Bill, this Houfe enter not into any
Vfches or Arguments of that Matter. And th.vt
iifr Majefty hath likewife iignified the fame her tike
Pbfure unto tiie Lords of the Upper-Houf;;, by
feme of the Committes of the fame Hoitl'e.'
The Commons catne to a Refolution on the
Queftion, Whether a Petition was to be drawn
upand prelented to her Majefty, for the fpeedy
Execution of the Duke ? That the faid Petition
fliould be digelted and put in Writing agiinft the
next Morning, and delivered to the Speaker to be
prelented fay him to the Qtieen. But two Days
after, May 31ft, a Qjjeltion was put for rrfpiting
tile faid Petition, and, it was carried in the Affirma-
tive. ' Becaule, perhaps, her Majefty will order it to
bedone fooner of her own Accord than being pref-
fal to it by the Houfe. And therefore it was whol-
ly iiid alide.' Bui, iiowever, the Bills and Remon-
Frances againft the Qiieen of Scots, took no Effeft
till fevcral Years after. The Duke of Narfilk,
however, fell a Sacrifice to the Jealoufies of the
Times, being beheaded, as before obfctv'd, whllfl;
■iii'i Parliament was fitting.
The Ceremonies at the Conclufion of this Sefli-
^n are omitted, thro' the Negligence of the Clerks,
■ in both the y«uf/(fl/j. And, we are only told, in
llistof the Lords, That, on the 30th Day of June,
the Queen came to the Houfe, when the Lord-
Keeper, by her Command, prorogued this Parlia-
ntenc to the Feaft of Ail Saints^ November zd,
following.
The Parliamentary Hiftory of this Reign, would
\ veiy concile, confideiing the Duration of it, if
184 The 'Parliamentary Histoilt
Qj^enEliMbtth.wc had no Oilier Tracts 10 follow than what a
1S7S' fliewn by the particular Hiftorianof it, or ourmoj
general Hiftories of Evghnd.
Mr. Citmbdm takes liale or ro Notice of the Pn
ceedings of any Parliament from this Period ; bi
has Contented himfelf in attending his Royal Mil
Irefs thro' the various Foreign Confederacies, Wars
Marine- Expeditionji and Love- Affiiirs oi her Reign
Indeed there never was a Time, when Parliament
met fo feldom ; and, it leems, as if this Heroi
Queen meant to ftew her Subjeds, that fhe coul
reign without their rtid and Alfiftance. Foi
from the Time of the laft Prorcgaiion, we met
with norhing likea Parliament 'till the eighteen!:
Year of thisRsgn.
The Journals of the Lords do not exprefsl
give us the Times of the fcveral Prorogation:
in this Interval ; but only inform us, liiat on \l
8th Day of February, in the Year above mciitionei
after various and fundiy Prorogations, the lame Pai
liament met to do BufinelsC^}-
Anno Rfgni i8. Being aflembled, the Queen came not to ll
I57S- Houfe, becaufe this was no new Parliament ; an
At Weftminiier. jj^e firft Thing We find that was done by the Lord
was to read a Bill for the Reformation of Appaie
Mr Cambdm takes Notice {h), that the Ye:
before this, the Queen had put out a Proclamatic
to flop thegrrat Excefs this niodifli Luxury h:
- _.,, . . then arrived to, Obftrving, that, to maintain tt
A Hill aEainfl ^, - - ,, . r? ■ , »»
Luiury inAp- bhining Vanity, a great Quantity of Money w
prel, yearly carried out of the Land, to buy Silks and <
iher foreign Fineries, 10 ihe Impoverin-imentof [I
Commonwealth, and the alnioft Ruin of fever
noble Families, who Iltove to vie with clleallot^
in this Kind of Extravagance. The Reader migl
oblerve, that feveral Sumptuary Laws, were mat
in different Reigns, to refhain this Vice ; and no'
the Queen's Proclamation being liitie regards
(63 P.^5s, .</. iS74i
DiAit. Pbiic»
0/ E N G L A N D. i8j
uiAftiof Parliament was dcfigned to enforce tlie(Wj„Eii„i,ei:ii.
Obrervance, But ihis Way had as little Succefs 1575.
»the former, fortho' the Bill palled the Houfe of
Lords, and w^s fent down to the Commons, they
never returned it. Probably, becaufS an AQ. of this
Nature might be an Hindrance to Trade; and, in-
deedjif the Reflraint of this Luxury wasagreeable
to the honeft Politics of thofe Times, it has been
Swught quite oiherwife in fome much later Reigns.
'When Equipages, Operas, Mafquerades, Drefs,
Vanities of all Sorts, were never fo much encoura-
ged: Whereby the Nobilityand Gentry, exhauft-
iag their own Eftates, become more fubfervient lo,
ind dependent on, the Crown.
On the fame Day, Feb. 8ih, Henry, Earl of
l^ffthumbsrland, younger Brother to the laie Earl
ThemaSf beheaded at 7ori, had a Summons to Par-
liament, and took his Place in the Houfe, with
feme other young Lords, who were introduced at
(he fame Time. Amongft whom was yobn
Lord Stourton, called up by Writ ; tho' the Aitain-
4et of his Father, (who was executed in the laft
iegn for an infamous MurderJ was only reverfed
ttlis Parliament.
There is nothing remarkable, elfe, entered in the
.lotds Jsurnoh, 'till the a7lh of this Month;
.*hen a Bill for a Subfidy of two Fifteenth! iuk
finths were fent up by the Commons ; it paffed
-fte Houfe of Lords on the firft of March. The
^pinted Stanites make this Grant xhvx Fijiemhs *^"''''**i'-
'ind Tenthi, befides the Sublidy. Theie was, alfo,
Ml AQ. for confirming a Grant of Six Shillings in
the Pound, from the Clergy, to be paid in three
Tears.
. But tho' they*"''"'''' of the Lords furnifh us with
'feHttle to the Purppfe, thofe of the Commons were
'Mtct more copious, for fo (hort a Seffion, as in this.
% which arc many Things very remark,ible, relat-
4ig to the Liberties and Privileges of that Houfe.
^pKjeurnaii/l gives us a Sp.-e^h made, the very
'wftDay of this Seiru>n, by Peier iVeiitworth, Efo;
'Wfmber for the B:jtough of Tregony in Coriiwal,
which
1 8(i The 'ParliamPHtary H i stort
Queen EliijbMh.*'^''^'^ evidently fliews xhat i\\ the Cornijb Mtm —
'i7S' ^^^^ vtxe not Courtiers in thofe Days. Th^
Speech and the Confequences of it are as memora-
ble, as any Thinp; we have yet met wirh in the
Courfe of thefe Enquiries ; and therefore needs no
Introdudion, noranyExcufc for the Length of it.
Mr. Speaker^
MrWentwortI.'j ( -K find written in a iitile Volume thefe Words in
oMbe Lib^..i« 1 ^ff^'^-' "Sweet is the Name of Liberty, but
of ihe Houfe. " the Thing itfelf a Value beyond all ineftimable
'* Treafure." * So much the more it behoveth us
' to take care left we, conientingourfelveswith the
* Sweetnefs of the Name, lofe and forego the
' Thing, being of the greatell Value that can come
* unto thisnobie Realm. The ineftimableTrealiire
* 19 the Ufe of it in this Houfe, And therefore I
* do think it needful to put you in Remembrance,
* that this Honourable Aflembty are ailembled and
* come t(^et her herein this Place, for three fpectai
* Caufes of moit weighty and great importance.
' The firft and principal is to make and abrogate
* fuch Laws, as may be moll for the Piefervack>n of
' our noble Sovereign.
' The fecond
' The third is to make or abrog;aie fuch Laws as
' may be to the chiefeft Surety, Safe-keeping, and
' Enrichment of this noble Realm of £»^/rf«ry. So
« that I do think that the Part o[ a faithlul-hearted
' Subjeft is, to do his Endeavour to remove alb'
* Stumbling- Blocks out of the Way that may im
* pair, or any manner ofway hinder, ihefe good ant^M
* godly Caufes of this our coming together.. I wa^?^
* never of Parliament but the laft, and the lai^^
* SeJlion, at both which Times I faw the Libcri)-^^
' of free Speech, the which is the only Salve to fiea ^
' all the Sores of ihis Common- wealth, fo mucl ^
' and Jo many Ways infringed, and fo man^^
' Abufesoffered to this Honourable Council, ashaif'^
■ much grieved nie even of very Confcience ar*^
■ Love to my Prince and Stale. WJ)eiefore toa. ^
* void the like, I do think it expedient to open ih.' ~
' Cora."'
Of ENGLAND. 187
' Commodities that grow to the Prince and whole QuetnElinbeA.
' State, by free Speech ufed in this Place; at the ij7S-
' lea ft To much as my limpleWji can gniher of it,
' the which is very litile in refped of that, that
' wife Heads can fay therein, and fo it is of the
' more Force.
' Firft, All Matters that Concern God's Honour,
' through free Speech fiiall be propagated here and
' f« forward, and all Things that do hinder it re-
' moved, repulfed and taken away,
' Next, There is nothing commodious, profita-
We, or any way beriefici.il for ihe Piince or Slate,
' dut faithful and loving Subjects will offer it in this
' Place.
' Thirdly, All Things difcommodious, perilous
or hurtful ro the Prince or State Ihall be prevent-
ed, even fo much as feemeth good to our merci-
' ful God to put into our Minds, the which no
doubt (hall be fufficient, if we do earneflly call
' upon him and fear him : For Solomon faith, Iht
' Fear of Ged h the Begiming f m/dtm. Wif-
' dBttii faith he, hreatketh Life ints her Children,
rtceiveth them that feek her, and will go beftde
them in the Way of Righteaufiiefi: So that our
Minds Ihall be direiled to all good, needful and
reilary Things, if we call upon God withfaith-
1 Hearts.
' Fourthly, If the Envious do ofier any Thing
artful or perilous to the Prince or State in this
lace, What Incommodity doth grow thereby?
' :r\\y I think none, nay, will you have me to
^- my fimpie Opinion therein, much Good
mmeih thereof ; how forfooth ? why by the Daik-
lefa of the Night the Brightnefs of the Sun (hew-
^ more excellent and clear, and how can Truth
pear and conquer until Fallfcood, and all Subtil-
a that fhould fhidow and dniken it, be found out ?
for it is offered in this Place as a Piece of fine
eedle-work to them that jremoft feilful there-
, for there cannot he a falfe Stitch (God aiding
lb} but will be found out.
« Fifthly,
t^een £iifabeth
X57S.
1 88 The Parliamentary History
* Fifthly, This Good cometh thereof, a wfcW
Piirpofe may the eafier be prevented when it %
known.
'* Sixthly, An evil Man can do the lefs Hann
when it is known.
' Seventhly, Sometime it happeneth^that a good
Man will in this Place (for Argument Sake) prc^
fer an evil Caufe, both for that he would have %
doubtful Truth tp be opened and manifefted, isA
alfo the Evil prevented ; fo that to this Point 1 j
conclude, that in this Houfe, which is termed f '
Place of free Speech, there is nothing fo necefltff
for the Prefervation of the Prince and State as firef
Speech ; and without this it is a Scorn and Mocb*
ry to call it a Parliament Houfe, for in Truth \\%
none, but a very School of Flattery and Dii-
mulatlon j and fo a fit Place to ferve the DcvJ
and his Angels in, and not to glorify God 'ani
benefit the Common- wealth.
* Now to the Impediments thereof, which, by.
God's Grace and my little Experience, I will utter
plainly and faithfully, I will ufe the Words of
Elcha^ Beholdy I am as the new Wine which iiti
no Fenty and hurjieth the new Vejfeh in fullkr^
therefore I will /peak that 1 may have a rent. 1
will open my Lips^ and male Anjwer^ I will re^
gard no Manner of Perfon^ no Man will IJ^f
for if I Jhould go about to pleaje Men^ I Inowmt^
how foon my Maker will take me away: Mj[
Text is vehement i the which by God*8 Sufferance,
I mean to obferve, hoping therewith to olIeD^'
none j for that of very Juftice, none ought to be
offended for feeking to do good and faying of tbc
Truth.
' Amongfl: other, Mr. Speaker, Two Tbiop
do great Hurt in this Place, of the which I do
mean to fpeak : Txhe one is a Rumour which
runneth about the Houfe, and this it i^, ^TakebM
what you do, the Queen's Majefty liketh not fuch
a Matter, whofoever prefercth it, flie will bccf^
feo(ied with him \ or the contrary, her Majeftf
' likcch
0/ E N G L A N D. 189
likethof fuch a Matter, whofoever fpeaketha-QujeenEBnbetb.
gainft it, fhe will be much offended with him.* iS75«
* The other : Sometimes a Meflage is brought
into the Houfe, either of Commanding or Inhi-
biting, very injurious to the Freedom of Speech
and Confultation. I would to God, Mr Speaker,
that thcfe two were buried in Hell, I mean Ru-
mours and Meilages ; for wicked undoubtedly
they are, the Reafon is, the Devil was the firft
' Author of them, from whomlproceedeth nothing
' but Wickednefs : Now I will fet down Reafons
' to prove them wicked.
* Flrft^ If we be in Hand with any Thing for
' the Advancement of God's Glory, were it not
* wicked to fay the Queen liketh not of it, or com-
^ mandeth that we (hall not deal in it ? Greatly
^ were tl^e Speeches to her Majelty's Difhonour,
' a^d an hard Opinion were it, Mr Speaker, that
^ thefe Things fhould enter into her Majefty's
' Thought ; much more wicked and unnatural
' were it that her Majefty (hould like or command
' any thing againft God, or hurtful to herfelf and
' the State. The Lord grant this Thing may be
* far from her Majefty's Heart Here this may be
* objeded, that if the Queen's Majefty fhould have
* Intelligence of any thing perilous or beneficial to
* her Majefty's Perfon or the State, would you
* not have her Majefty give Knowledge thereof in
* this Houfe, whereby her Peril may be prevented,
* and her Benefit provided for ? God forbid, then
* were her Majefty in worfe Cafe than any of her
* Subjefls. And, in the Beginning of our Speech,
* I (hewed it to be a fpecial Caufe of our Affem-
* bling, but my Intent is. That nothing fhould' be
* done to God's Diftionour, to her Majefty's Peril,
* or the Peril of the State. And therefore I will
* fhew the Inconveniences that grow of thefe
* two.
« Firft^ If we follow not the Prince's Mind, So-
* hMn faith, Il)e King's DijpUafure is a Mejfenger of
* Death : This isa terrible Thing to weak Nature,
* for who is able to abide the fierce Countenance of
his
150 Hie 'Parliamentary HisroKT
QHmEUzibcib. • his Prince, but if we will difcharge our Confcien -
•S7i. t j^^ and be tnie to God.andPrince and State, ktc
* muft have due Confideration of ihePlaccand the J
' OccaGoD of our coming together ; and efpeciali^ I
' have Regard unto ihe Matter wherein we botl^ I
* flial! leive God, and our Prince and State faiw I
* ftiily, and not dillembling as Eye-Pieafers, and (S^ '
* juftiy avoid all Dil'pleafures both to God and oi« -*
' Prince; (01 SahmoniMh, In thtlFny </ the j^gh —
' tesus there is Life, as for any other Way, ii r-^
* the Path to Death. So that 'o avoid everlafr- —
-* fting Death and Condemnation, with the Higl — ^
* and Mighty God, we ought to proceed in evcry^^
* Caufe according to the Matier, and not accordin^^
* to the Prince's Mind: And now I will fliew^"^
* you a Reafon lo prove it perilous always IC:^
* follow the Princes Mind. Many Times i^S
* failethout, that a Prince may favour a Caufc^s
* perilous to himfelfand the whole State ; Wha^^
* are we then ifwe follow ihe Princes Mind? Ar^^
* we not unfailhful unto God, our Pdncc anc^
' State f Yes truly, we are chofen of the whol^^*
* Realm, of a fpecial Truft and Confidence b^^T
' them repofed in us, to forfee all fuch Inuonve
* niences. Then I will fet down my Opinioi — ^^
* herein, that is to fay. He that dilFembleth to hes=r
* Majefty's Peril, is to be counied as a hateful Ent^ "
' my J for thiC he givcth iin[o her Majefty a detefcl^-
' table yudiis his Kifs ; and he that contrarietb h^=r
' Mind to her Prefeivaiion, yea though her Maje=-
' fty would be much offended with him, is to b^ £ j
' adjudged an approved Lover, for faithful are l^Se I
' Wounds of a Lover, fi\ihSokmon/but the Ki£es ^^ I
* an Enemy a<e deceitful: And it is better, faicrJi f
' jtiili/Nienes, to fall amongft Ravers than among.^ j'
' Flatiercrs, for Ravens do but devour thede^*' j:.
* Corps, but Flatterers the Living. And it is bot^ ^ 1 ?■
' traiterous and hcllifli, through Flattery, to fe^* .JU
' to devour our natural Piince, and that do Fla.t- 111
' lerers ; therefore iet them leave it with Shair** ina
' enough. i
Of ENGLAND. 191
* Now to another great Matter that rifeth of this Queen Eiiitketk
grievous Rumour, What is it forfooth ? What- iS75«
foever thou art that pronounceft it, thou doft pro-
nounce thy oivn Difcredit j Why fo ? for that
thou doll what lieth in thee to pronounce the
Prince to be perjured, the which we neither may
nor will believe ; for we ought not without too
too manifeft Proof to credit any Diihonour to
our Anointed ; no, we ought not without it to
think any Evil of her Majefty, but rather to hold
him a Liar why* Credit foever he be' of ; for the
Queen's Majefty is the Head of the Law, and
muft of Neceflity maintain the Law ; for by the
Law her Majefty is made juftly our Queen, and
Iqr it (he is moft chiefly maintained : Hereunto
agreetb the moft excellent Words of Bra^M {i)^
who faith. The King hath no Peer nor Equal in his
Engdom : He hath no Equal, for otherwife he
might lofe his Authority of Commanding,
fince that an Equal hath no Power of Com-
mandment over his Equal. The King ought
not to be under Man, but under God, and under
the Law, becaufe the Law maketh him a King.
Let the King therefore attribute that to the Law,
which the Law attributeth unto him, that is, Do-
minion and Power ; for he is not a King in whom
Will and not the Law doth rule, and therefore
heought to be under the Law. I pray you mark
the Reafon why my Authority faith. The King
ought to be under the Law, for, faith he. He is
God's Vicegerent upon Earth j that is, his Lieu-
tenant to execute and do his Will, the which is
Law or Jufticc, and thereunto was her Majefty
fworn at her Coronation, as I have heard learned
Men in this Place fundry Times affirm ; unto
the which I doubt not but her Majefty will, for
her Honour and Confcience Sake, have Special
Regard ; for free Speech and Confcience in this
Place are granted by a Special Law, as that with-
out the which the Prince and State cannot be pre-
ferved
{i\^9£ton it LegibuiJingli^t Lib* 1. Cap, 7,
Queen Elizabeth.
i
19 2 Tbe Parliamentary H i s T o a Y
ferved or maintained. So that I would wifli c-
very Man that feareth God, regardeth the Prin-
ces Honour, or efteemeth his own Credit, to fear
at all Times hereafter to pronounce any (uch hor-
rible Speeches, fo much to the Princes DifhonottTi
for in fo doing he fheweth himfelf an open Ene-
my to her Majefty, and fo worthy to be contem-
ned of all faithful Hearts. Yet there is another
Inconvenience that rifeth of this wicked Rumour;
The Utterers thereof feem to put into our Heads,
That the Queen's Majefty hath conceived an
evil Opinion, Diffidence and Miftruft in usher
faithful and loving Subjefts ; for if (he had not,
her Majefty would then wifib that all the Things
dangerous to herfelf fhould be laid open before us }
afTuring herfelf, that loving Subje£ls, as we arCf
would, without Schooling and Dire£tion> widi
careful Minds to our Powers, prevent and with-
ftand all Perils, that might happen unto her Ma-
jefty. And this Opinion I doubt not'but her Ma- .
jcfty hath conceived of us, for undoubtedly there
was never Prince that had faithfuUer Hearts than
her Majefty hath here ; and furely there were
never Subjefts had more Caufe heartily to love
their Prince for her quiet Government than wc
have. So that he that raileih this Rumour, iiill '
encreafeth but Difcredit in feeking to fow Sediti*
on as much as lieth in him, between our merciful
Queen and us her moft loving and faithful Sub-
jefts, the which by God's Grace fhall never lie in
his Power, let him fpii out all his Venorae, and
there withal (hew out his malicious Heart ; yell
have collefted fundry Reafons to prove this a
hateful and a deteftable Rumour, and the Utter-
er thereof to be a very Judas to our noble Que^;
therefore let any hereafter take heed how he pub-,
lifh it, for as a very Judas unto her Majefty, atid:
an Enemy to the whole State, we ought toac-'^
cept him.
* Now the other was a Meffage, Mr Speaker/;
brought thelaft ScflTion into the Houfe, that we'
fliould not deal in any Matters of Religion, b«t
firik
■ OA E K G L A N D. ip3
* Srft to receive from the Bifliops ; Surely this was QutenElii.li*k;
' 1 doleful MelTage, foritwasasmuchas tofay, Sirs, 'i'S-
' ye fliall not deal in God's Caufes, no, ye fliall in
' nowile feek to advance his Glory ; and in Recom-
' pence of your Unkindnefs, God in his Wrath
' will look upon your Doings, that the chief Caufe
' that ye were called together for, the which is the
' Prefervation of their Prince, (hall have no good
' Succefs : If fome one of this Houfe had prefent-
' ly made this luierpretaiion of this faid Meflage,
' had he not feemed to have the Spirit of Prophe-
' cy? Yet iruly I alTure you, Mr. Speaker, there
' Were divers of this Houle that faid with grievous
' Hearts, immediately upon the Meflage, that
' God of his Juflice could not profper the Seflion;
' and let it !>e holden for a Principle, Mr. Speaker,
' that Council that comeih not together in God's
' Namci cannot profper ; for God faiih, Whert
' ni'( w three are gathered together in his Name,
' 'h-i em I in the mid/} among them : Wei!, GoJ
' C'en the great and mighty God, whofe Name is
' ihe Lord of Hofts, great in Cnunfel, and infinite
in Thought, and who is the only good Direflor
* of all Hearts, was the laft Seflion Ihut out of
' I^oors: But what fell out of it forfoolhf His
I grcat^ndi" nation was therefore poured upon this
\ Houfe, for he did put into the Queen's Majefliy's
I , Heart to refufe good and wholefome Laws (or
J ner own Prelervation ; the which caufed many
, faithful Hearts for Grief to burft out with forrow-
, ^ul Tears, and moved all Papifls, Traitors to
Qod and her Majefty, who ^n\y good Chiiftiati
Government, in their Sleevej to laugh all the
^holc Parliament-Houfe to Scorn: And fhall I
Pats over this weighty Matter fo flightly? Nay,
*■ Will difcharge my Confcience and Duties to
^od, my Prince and Country. Sn certain it is,
^'Ir Speaker, that none is without Fault, no not
J *iut noble Queen, fith then her Majefty haih
. *^ommitted great Fault, yea dangerous Faults to
lierfelf.
Vol. IV. N ' Love,
5i
Queen Elisabeth
194, The Parliamentary H i story
' Love, even perfed Love void of Diffimulaiion,
will not fuffcr me to hide them, to her Majefty's
Peril, but to utter them to her Majefty's Safety;
And thefe they are, it is a dangerous Thing in t
Prince unkindly to abufe his or her Nobility and
People, and it is a dangerous Thing in a PrincelD
oppofe or bend herfelf againft her Nobility and
People, yea againft moft loving and faithful No»
bility and People. And how could any Prinet
more unkindly intreat, abufe, oppofe herfelf t^
gainft her Nobility and People, than her Majc"
did the laft Parliament ? Did fhe not call it
Purpofe to prevent traiterous Perils to herPe
and for no other Caufe ? Did not her Ma)
fend unto us two Bills, willing us to make c
of that we liked beft for her Safety, and t
to make a Law, promifing her Majefty's R
Confent thereunto? And did we not firft cl
the one, and her Majefty refufed it ; yielding
Reafon, nay, yielding great Reafons why
ought to have yielded to it ? Yet did we nev
thelels receive the other, and agreeing to mi
a Law thereof, Did not her Majefty in the E
refufe all our Travels? And did not we, '
Majefty's faithful Nobility and Subjedls, plai
and openly decypher ouifelves unto her Maj
and our hateful Enemies; and hath not herl
jefty left us all open to their Revenge? Is this
juft Recompence in our Chriftian Queen for
faithful Dealings*? The Heathen- do requite G
for Good, Then how much more is it to be
peded in a Chriftian Prince? And will not
her Majefty's Handling think you, Mr. S.
make cold Dealing in any of her Majefty's
jedls toward her again? I fear it will,
hath ir not caufed many already think you,
Speaker, to feck a Salve for the Head that
have broken? I fear it liath, and many
will do the like if it be not prevented in Ti
And hath it not marvelloully rejoiced and otf
raged the hollow Hearts of her Majefty's hatt
Enemies and traiterous Subjefts? No doubt
r — ' -^
Of K N G T. A N Dl inc I
0/ E N G L A N rx 195
'it hath: And I be fee ch God ihat her Maje/ty (i,^^^,
' may do all Things ihal may grieve the Hearts of
' lift Enemies, and may joy the Hearts that un-
' ffigDcdly love herMajdly: And I befrech ihe
' ' lime God to endue lierM^ijefty with his Wifdom,
■■'wii^reby flie nuy dilbein faithful Advice from
\ ' |tai[erous fugsrcJ ?<\ eechcs, and lo fend her Ma-
f ' My a melting yielding Heart unio found CoLin-
. ' H that Will may not ftand for a Reafon : And
! tlien her Majelly wilt Hand when her Enemies
]' S'C fallen, for no Kftaie can (tand where the
Pfince will not be governed by Advice. And i
' "iwfat not but that lome of her Majefty's Coun-
' cil hai'e deal: plainly and laithfully with her iVIa-
'a&y herein ; if any have, let it be a fure Token
fo her Msjefly 10 know them for approved Sub-
[ jeflsj and whaifoever they be that did perfuade
litrMajefty fo unlcindly to intreac, abufe, and
I tooppdfe herfelf againft her Nobility and People,
[ Of Commend her Majefty for fo doing, let it be
[ ' fure TcVen to htr Majeily to know them for
[ fi!ic Traitors mid Undermincrs of her Majefly'a
fLiit, and remove them out of her Majefty'a
[ Pfefence and Favour ; for the more cunning they
I Jffj the more dangerous are they unto her Ma-
|Hy. But was this all? No, for God would
^voucbfafe that his Holy Spirit fliould all that
It) defcend lipon our Bilhops ; fo that in that
m nothing was done to the Advancement of
Glory, I have heard of old Parhament-Meni
Jibe Bantfhmeiit of the Pope snd Pupcry, and
FReftoring of true Religion had their Be-
long from this Houfe, and not from the Bi-
'1 and I have he.ird th.it few Laws for Rdigi-
i their Foundaiion ffom them; and 1 do
Jthnifc, befoie GodI fptnk it, that the Bi-
"»«re Ihe Caufe of that doleful Mellage,
IHfhew yo.i what moveth me jb to think:
•t amtingft oihers, the laft P.irliameni, fent
*^ Bifhop of CantK'hury, for the Articles
Wigion that then palled th:^ Houfe. He afked
' "'hy ^e did put out of the Book the Articles
N J * for
ipfi The '^arliametitary Hi&TOR.r
Q2(eaEli«b«h. ' for the Homilies, Conrecraling of Biftiops, and
■i7S- * fachlike? Surely, Sir, laid 1, becaufe we were
' fo occupied in other Matters, that we had no
* Time to examine them how ihey agreed with the
* Word of Go(i: Wiiai, faid he, furely youmif-
' took the Matter, you will refer yourfelveawhol-
' ly to us therein? No, by the Faith 1 bear lo
' God, laid I, we will pals noihing before we un-
' derlland what it is; (or that were but to malce
' yoii Pspes ; make you Pcpss who lifl, faid I, for
' we will make you none. And fure, Mr. Speaker,
' the Speech feemed lo me to be a Pope-SieS^eedi,
' and I Tear left our Bifhops do attribute this of die
' Psp^'s Canons unto themfelves. Papa non pslt/i
* irrart ; for furely if they did not, they would
' reform Things amiis, and not to fpurn againll
' God's People for writing therein as they do; but
' I can tell them News, they do but k' '
' the Pricks, for undoubtedly they both
* do err, and God will reveal his Trull
' theHearisof them and all his Enemies, foir;_
* is ihe Truth, and it will prevail : And lo
' the Truih.. it is an Error to think that Gfl
' Spirit is tied only to them ; for the Heavenly $
' rit feith, Fir/l feek the Kingdom of God and
* RighUoufnefi thereof^ and all ihcje Thlngi {cot
' ing temporal) JhaU be glvm you : Theic Wi
' were not fpoken to ihc Bifhops only, but to i
' and the Writ, ^^^. Speaker, that we are aOt
* up by, is chiefly to deal in God's Caufe J fodl
' ourCommiflion both from God, and our Print
' is to de^l in God'sCaufes : Therefore ibeaccq
* ting of fuch Mefliiges, and taking them in g0
' Part, do highly offend God, and istheAcoai
' lien of the Breach of the Liberties of this H
' nourahle Council J for is it not all oneThit^l
* fay, Sirs, you fliall deal in fuch Matters onIy,j;
' to fay, you fhall not deal in fuch Matters? '"
* fo as good to have fools and Flatlerers in
' Houle, as Men of Wifdom, grave Judgmi
' faithful Hearts, and lincereConfciences; fori
' being [aught what they ihall do, can give thi
^ Cob
0/ E N G L A N D. IJ17
' Confents as well as the others : Well, He thatq^
' hath an Office, faith St. Paul, let him luah on his
' Officii or give diligent Attendance upon his Of-
' lice. It i3 a great and fpecia! Part of our Duty
' snd Office, Mr. Speaker, to maintain the Free-
' dom of Confultaiion and Speech; for by this,
' good Laws that do fet forth God's Glory, and for
' the Prefervaiion of the Prince and State are made.
' St. Paul'iii the fame Place laith, Hate that which
' u evil, cleave unlo that which is good: Then
' with St. Paul, I do advife you all here prefect,
' 7ea, and heartily and earneftly defire yoit from
' the Bottom of your Hearts, to hate all Meilen-
' gers, Tale- Carriers, or any other Thing what-
' foever it be that any manner of way infringes
' the Liberties of this Honourable Council; yea,
' hate it or them as venemous and Poifon unto cur
* Common -Wealth, for they are venemous Beafts
' that do ufe it; therefore I fay again and again,
' Hate that which is evil, and cleave unta that
' which is good; and this, being loving and faithful
' hearted, I do wifh to be conceived in Fear of
' God, and of Love to our Prince and Statej for
' we are incorporated into this Place, to ferve God
' and all England, and not to be Time-Servers, as
* Humour- feeders, as Cancers that would pierce the
' Bone, or as Flatterers that would fain beguile all
' the World, and To Worthy to be condemned both
' of God and Man ; but let us Ihew ourfelves a
' People endued with Faith, I mean with a lively
' Faith, that bringeth forth good Works, and not
' as dead. And thefe good Works I with to break
' forth in this Sort, not only in hating the Enemies
' before-fpoken againft, but alfo in open reproving
' them as Enemies to God, our Prince and State
' that do ufe them, for they are fo. Therefore I
' would have none fparcd or forborn that (hall
,' from henceforth offend herein, of what Calling
' foever he be, for the higher Place he hath, the
' more Harm he may do ; therefore if he will not
' efchew Offences, the higher I wifli him hanged.
fci fpeak this in Charity, Mr. Speaker, for i: is bet-
N 3 tcr
1^6 The Tarlfameutary Hi ^^
:nEh»iit[h.' for the Homilies, ConfecraUiig of
'S75- • fuchlike? Surely, Sir, laid 1, '
' fo occupied in other Matters,
' Time to examine them how' ''
' Word of GoJ.- What, fa' -^]^^'"'?
' took the Matter, youwil' ^™ '°A
» ly to OS Therein? No we have fa _
' God, (aid I, we will 'Ju^dble Cou^
* derftand what it is ; "'-^c, Mr. Speatt
' yoii Fi^t^i ; make • '"" t^"'J» our Frilg
' wewill makeyo- ■ ^onfit'ente by ihemj
' the Speech feeP ■''^^ *^^"' '""" 1"^ £'■"'1
' and I fear lef ifl^t we may from henceloq
' Pope's Czr y/Aer B:i(laias nor DalhrdsJ
* irrart; f ^/ghtly-hegoucn Children, *
' reform '..^(«< boldly reprove God's EnemH
t God'- .j^jfld S'^^^ '• ^"'^ ''' ^^11 every orfj
* la ■'S^ ""'■ ^""^^ '" ■'^'^ ""I" H'g^
« Ih -S he ^^^^ P'^"^ "s. and Ihew oj
* 'TSsaCE^''' 3"'' Cleavers to that that'
■ ate /eriing forth of God's G lory and I
/JJjtoif'c Prefervalion of curNuhleC
,'iW'"""" ^V'ealih ; for thefe are the ^
,^e might only in this Place toflioota..,
, ifiusearneft, I take God to witnefs, for Cd
* jjJif, Love liiiio my Prince and C^
, iVealth, and for the Advancement 'l
. l!icej for Ju^ia, tailh an Anticnt Fathgj
•■ Prime of all Firtues, yea, the faft at^A
Guard of Man's Life, for by it Empirim
doms, Piopk, and Cities be governed, tS^
* if it be taken auiayy the Sxiety sf Mat
■* htrg endure. And a King, f.iiih Soloim,
* fitteth in the Ihrene of Judgment, and ba
* about him, ihafetb away all Evil: In ihe^
' Sfaleand Throne, God lor his great Mercia
' grant ih^t our Noble Q^ieen may be'T
* ly vigilmtand watchful; for farely ther*
' great Fault commiired boih in the laftl
* mcnt, and fince alfo that was, as faithful!
' as any were unto the Prince and State,
'ENGLAND, 15151
■^^, the which is but an hard Point ^„nEiij,,^ti^
■'inge the Enemy, to difcourage 1575.
■ who of lervenc Love can-
;- "-w the Rule of St. Paul,
W '-{houi D-jJimuhtion.
^ ^ *^;t I ibuiid the laft
^ Voftbis Houfe alfo,
|r(L ihem all might be
^^^ .J Men ia other Cau-
^ ^ [hem in that Doing, fit
,(ilt which they had moft
, mufed at it, and aiked what
,0 think it a flianieful Thing to
:ir Prince or Country, with ihe
.J , and not with the Heart and Body.
.wered that ii was a common Policy \t\,
fe, to mail; the belt Sort of the fame,
:r 10 fit orarile with tliem ; that fame
Policy, I would gladly have baniOied
fe, and have grafted in the Stead thereof,
\ rife or fit as the Matter givethCaufe;
lyes ef the l.i,rd behold all the Earthy to
lalltheHcsris of them that are while w:th
hefe be God's own Words, mark ihem
heartily befeech you all; for God will
ve Half- part, he will have the Whole.
n, he mifliketh thefe two-faced Gentle-
1 here be many Eyes that- will to their
me behold their double Dealing that ufc
IS I have holden you long with my rude
thewhich fincc it rcndeth wholly with
nfcience to feek the Advancement of
lory, our Honourable Sovereign's Safety,
e fure Defence of this noble Ifie of Eng~
id all by maintaining of the Liberties of
lounble Council, the Fountain from
ill thcfe do fpringi my humble andhear-
nto you all is, to accept my Good- Will,
this that I have here fpoken out of Con-
nd great Zeal unto my Prince and State,
be buried in the Pit of Oblivion, and fo
come thereof.'
' Upon
1^8 'Ihe Parliamentary >Tistort
a. PI' u L ' '^f '''^^ ™^ fhouU be hanged, ib.in that ihisNu-
.575 tie Slate fliouM be fiibveriedi well, I ptay God
' wiih all mv Heart, to turn tiie Hearts of all tht
' Enemies of our Priin:c and Stite, and to fot^ii't
' them [hat wlietcln they have ulfeniied, yea, ami
' [Ogive iheni Grace to ofic-iid therein no raoiej
' even To 1 do heartily bcfcLcli God to forgive ui
* for holding our Peace when we have heard any
' Injury offered to i!iis Honourable Council; lot
■ furely it is no fmall OiRncc, Mr. Speaker, for
' we offenil therein againll God, our Prince and
* State, and abufe the Confidence by thetti repoftd
' in us. Wherefore Gud tor his great Mercin
' Sake, grant that we may from henceforth fliew
' ourfelves neither B^ftntds nor Daltards thertin,
' but that as rightly -begciien Children, we nuy
* Oiarply and boldly reprove God's Enemies, out
* Prince's and State ; and fo fliall every one of us
* dilcharge out- Duties in this our High-Ofo,
* wherein he hath placed us, and fliew ourfelvcs
' Hatersof Evil, and Cleavers to that that is good,
' to the fetting forth of God's Glory and Honotifi
' and to the Prefervation of cur Noble Queen and
' Conifnon-Wealth; for thefe are the Marks that
■' we ought only in this Place to fliooi at. lam
' thus earneft, I take God to witncfs, for Conlciencc
* Sake, Love unto my Prince and Common-
* WeaUh. and for the Advancement of ju-
' flice; for Juft'ia, faith an Aniient Father, 11 iW
* Prince of all fmues, yea, the fafe and fdtlfi
' Guard of Man's Life, for by it EmpireSy Ki't
' dyiis, Peiple, and Cities be governed, the wUcb
* if it be taken away^ the Society ef Man laniiit
' long endure. And a King, f.iiih Solomon, thi^
* fitteth in the Ihrone of Judgment, and lodeth vnX
* about him, chafetb away all Evil: In the whicb
' Stale and Throne,God for his great Mercies Salte,
' grant that our Noble Q^ieen may be heaili-
' ly vigilant and watchful ; for furely there was »
* great Fault committed both in the lail Patlii-
* mcnt, and lince aUo that was, as faithful Hearts
' as any were unto the Prince and State, receival
' (iioft
0/ E N G L A N D. i^p
moft Difpleafurcj the which is bui an liard Po'ntn,„nEliHb(ih.
in Policy, to encourage tlie Enemy, ro difcourage 1575.
ihe fait iiful- hearted, who of Jervent Love can-
rot diflemble, but follow the Rule of St. Paul,
who laith. Let Love he ■without D:£imuliiimi.
* Now 10 another great Fault I lound the iall
Parliameni, committed by fome ofthis Houfeal;o,
the which I would defire of them all might be
left i I have feen right good Men in other Cau-
fes, although 1 did diflike ihem in that Doing, li:
in an evil Matter againlt which they had molt
carneftiv fpokeri : I muied at it, and afcd what
it meant, for I do think it a (hameful Thing to
ferve God, their Prince or Country, with the
Tongue only, and not with the Henrc and Body.
I was anfweted that it was a common Policy in
tiiisHoufe, to mark the beftSoit of the lame,
and either to fit or arile with them ; that lame
common Policy, I would gladly have bsniflied
this Houfc, and have grafted in the Stead thereof,
either to rife or fil as the Matter givethCaufe:
Fsr ikt Eye! t,f the Lard behold all the Earth, le
firengthen all the Hearts efihem that are whelew.th
bim. Thefe be God's own Words, mark them
well, I heartily befeech you allj for God will
not receive Half- pan, he will have the Whole.
And again, he mifliketh thefe two-faced Gentle-
men, and here be many Eyes thit will to their
great Shame behold their double Dealing that ufc
it. Thus I have holden you long with my rude
Speech ; the which lince it tendelh wholly with
pute Confcicnte to feek the Advancement of
God's Glory, our Honourable Sovereign's Safety,
and to the lure Defence of this noble Ille of E^l^-
knd, and all by maintaining of the Liberties of
diis Honourable Council, the Fountain fromi
whence all ihcfe do fpring ; my humble and hear-
ty Suit unto you all is, to accept my Good- Will,
snd that this that I have here fpuken out of Con-
fcience and great Zeal unto my Piinceand State,
may not be buried in the Pit of Oblivion, and fo
Ho Good come ilicrcol.'
' Upon
1
aoo The 'Parliamentary Histor r
""s7s" "^ ' ' Upon thisSpeech, the Houle out of a reverenl
Regard of her Majeily's Honour, ftopped his
furihcr Proceeding before he had fully finilhed.
The MclTage Mr, Wsntwurih meant and iniended,
was that which v;as fent by her Majefty to the
Houfe of Commons, in ihe Fourteenth Year of her
Reign, upon the 28th Day of May^ by Sir Framis
Knalki Kl. inhibitirg them, for a certain Time, ta
treat or deal in the Mailer touching the &cmiJB
Queen,'
Mr, Wtntworih ' ^^f- i^iviworth being fequeftred the HoufT
feqofftred from for his faid Speecii, 11 was agreed and or-
w!i's"e"ch' '°'^''^''^'' ^y the Houfe upon the Queliion (after fur*
dry Motions and Difpulaiions had therein 1 that ht
fhoold be prefentiy committed to the Serjeant 'i
Wata as Prifoner j and fo remaining, Ihould be ex-
amined upon his laid Speech, !or the extenuating
' of his Fault therein, by a Committee confifting of
all the Privy-Council being of this Houfe, ando-
tlier Members.
Next follows Mr Wentwortb'^ own Account of
his Examination, before the Committee, aa fol-
lows;
n '„. 'ATirHERE is your law
punted tp «a- ' W Speech you promifd
inins him there- < to deliver in Writing ? '
VP"°' fp-'entzverib. ' Here it is, and I deliver it upon
' two Conditions: The fiift is, That you flail
' perufe it all, and if you can find any Want of
* Good-Will to my Prince and State in any Pan
' thereof, let meanlwerail as if 1 had uttered sH'
' The fecond is. That you fliali deliver it unto tiw
' Queen's Majefty; if 'her Majefty, otyouofh"
' Privv-Council, can find any Want of Loveto
' her Majefty,or theStaie iheielnaifo; let mean-
' fwer it ?
Cam. ' We will deal with no more than J«
' uttered in the Hcufe.'
IViKl. ' Your Honours cannot refufe to deliwr
( (t to her Majefty, for I do iend it to her Majeftf
O/- E N G L A N D. 201
as my Heart and Mind, knowing it will do her
Majcfty good ; it will hurt no Man buttnyfetf.' ^
Com. * Seeing your Defire is to have us deliver
it to her Majefty ; we will deliver it,'
Went, * I humbly require your Honours fo to
I do.'
Then the Speech being read, they faid.
Com. ' Here you have utiered certain Rutnour^
' of the Queen's Majefty : Where and of whom
' lieard you them ? '
Went. ' If your Honours ask me as Counfellers
' Ic her Majefty, you ftial! pardon me ; I will
' make you no Anfwer : I will do no fuch Injury
' to the Place from whence I came ; for I am
;■ no private Perfon, I am a puhlick, and a
' Councellor to the whole State, in that Place,
' where it is lawful for me to fpeak my Mind free-
' ly; and not for you, as Counfellors, to call me to
' Account for any thing that I do fpeak in the
' Houfe ; and therefore if you ask measCounfel-
' lots to her Majefty, you Ihall pardon me, I will
' make no Anfwer; but if youaskmeas Commit-
' !ees from the Houfe, I will make you the beft
' Anfwer I can.'
Com. ' We ask you as Committees from the
* Houfc/
Wtnt. ' 1 will then anfwer you ; and thewil-
' linger for that mine Anfwer will be in fomc Part
' foimperfefl as ol Neceffiiy il muft be. Your
' Queftion confifteih of thefe two Points, Where
' and of whom I heard thefe Rumours ? The
if Place where I heard them was the Parliament-
Kife ; but of whom, lafliire you, I cannot
Com. ' This is no Anfwer to fay, you cannot
!' tell of whom, neither will we take it for any."
ffnt- ' Tmly your Honours muft needs take
' il for an AnJ'wer, when I can make you no
' better."
Com. ' Belike you have heard fome Speeches,
' JD (he Town, of her Majefty's mifliking of Re-
202 Thc'Parliafnentary Histokt
3<iii, ' ligion and SuccelTion ; you are loth to utter of
* whom, and did ufe Speeches thereupon-'
iVtnt. ' I afliire you Honours I can fhew you
' that Speech at my own Houfe, written with my
' Hand two or three Years ago. So that you maj'
* thereby judge, that I did not Ipeak it of any
' thing that I heard fince I came to Town.'
Coin. ' You have aufwered that, but where
* heard you it then.'
jytnt. ' If your Honours do think I fpeak for
' Excufe- Siike, let this latijfy you: I proteltbe-
* fore the li\ingGod I cannot le'll of whom Iheard
' thele Rumours ; yet I do verily think thiH I hearti
' them of a hundred or [vvo in the Houie-
dm. ' Then of fo many you can name forae . '
Went. » Nofurely, becaule It was lo general a
' Speech, I marked none ; neither do Men marlc
' Speakers commonly when they be general : And
' I affure you if I could tell, I would not. For I
' will never utter any thing told me, to the Hurt d
' any Man, when I am not enforced Ihereunio,
' as in this Cale I may chule. Yet 1 would deal
' plainly with you, for I would teli your Honours
' fo,andif your Honours do tint credit me,Iwill
' voluntarily take an Oath, if you ofter me a Book,
* that I cannot tell of whom I heard thofeRu
' mours. But if you offer me an Oath of your
* Authorities, I will refule it ; bccaufe I will d"
* nothing to infiinge the Liberties of the Houfe.
' But what need I loiifeihelcSpeeches? Iwillgive
' you an Inftance, whereupon I heard thcfe R«J-
' mour-i to your Satisfying, even luch a one, as il
' you will fpeak the Trmh, you Ihall confefs, tti^t
' you heard the fame as well as I.
Com. ' In fo doing we will be fasisfied : Wii^t
* is that ?
IViiit. ' The laft Parliament [by which it may
' be conceived he meant and intended that Parlia-
' mcnt in An. 13 Rigina Eliz.'] he thiit is noW
' Si>eaker \.viz. Riltrt B41, Elq; who was alio
* Speaker in the firit Seffion of this prefent Parlia-
' ment in An. 14 Regina: ejufdnr.'^ uttered a very
good
Of ENGLAND. 203
good Speech for the calling: in of ctrtain Licen-
ces granted to four Couriicrs, to the utter Undo-
* ing of fix or eiglit thoufnnd of the Qiieen's Maje-
fty'a Subjeifts. This Speech was lo dlJliked of
fomeof the Coiiticll, that he was fent for; and fo
liardly dealt with, that he came into the Houle
with fuch an amazed Co.intenancc, thai it daun-
ted all the Houfe in fuch Sort, that for ten, twelve,
' or fixteen Days, there was not one in ihe Houfe
' tiiat durft deal in any Matter of Importance.
' And inthofe iimple Matters that they dealt in,
they fpent more Words and Time in iheir Prc-
* amble, requiring that they might not be miftaken,
'* than they did in the Matter they fpake unto.
This Inconvenience ^rew unto the Houfe by the
Councils hard handling of the faid good Mem-
ber, whereupon this Rumour grew in the Houfe.
* Sirs,yini may not ^eah agahijl Licences, the ^een's
* Miyefty -Mil be angry, the Privy-Cmncil Isa
* mil be aagry; and this Rumour I fuppofe there
is not one of you here but heard it as well as I.
1 I befeech your Honours difcharge your Confci-
* ences herein as I do.'
Cem. ' We heard ir, we confefs, and you have
I * fatisfied us in this ; But how fay you to the bard
* Interpretation yon made of the Meflage that was
■ fent into the Houfe .' ' [The Words were reci-
ted.] ' We allure you We never heard a harder In-
' tcrpretation of^ Mefliige.'
IVeat. ' I fcei'eech )our Honours, firfl, was
,"* there not fuch a Mell:ige fent unto the Houfe f '
^ Cam. * We grant that there was.'
.. iVent, * Then I cruft you will bear me Record
" that I made ii not ; and I aniwer you that fo hard
a MefTagc could not have too hard an Interpre-
' lation made by the wifeft Man in England. For,
can there by any poflible Means be fent a harder
* Meflage to a Council gathered together 10 letve
' God, than to fay, Yuu fhall not feek to advance
* the Glory of God ? I am of this Opinion that
* there cannot be a more wicked Meflage than it
I Com.
204 ^'^'^ 'Parliamentary H1ST0R.T
enZlinhrth. ^'""- ' ^°^ '"^X ^^^ fpezk againll Meffage?
IS7S. ' fornone fendelh them but the Queen's Majefty,
Treni. ' If the Mtflage be againft the Glory a
' God, againft the Prince's Safety, or againft th»
' Liberty of this Parliament- Houfc whereby iht
* State is maintained, I neither may nor will holu
' my Peace. I cannot in fo doing difchai^e my
* Confcience, whofoever doth fend it. And I fay,
* ihat I heartily repent me, for that I have bither-
' to held my Peace in thtfe Caufes, and I dopro-
' mife you all, if God forlake me not, that 1 will
' never, during Life, hold my Tongue, if any
' Mefilige is fent, wherein God is diDionoured, the
* Prince perilled, or the Liberties of the Parii'a-
* ment impeached ; and every one of you hsre
* prefent ought to repent you of thefe Faults, and
' to amend ihcm.
Cum. ' It is no new Precedent to have tie
' Prince to fend Meilages.'
[ Then were two or three Meflages ccciled, feni
by two or three Princes,]
ff^ent. ' Sits, faid I, you do very evil to alldge
Precedents in this Order. You ought to alledge
wd Precedents to comfort and embolden Men
, Good Doing, and evil Precedents to difcou-
' rage and terrify Men to do Evil.'
Ccni. ' But what meant you to make fo tarii
■ Interpretation of Meflages ' ' ^
fVent- ' Surely I marve! vimt you mean by
' afking this Queftion. Have I net (aid, fo hard a
■ Meil^ige could not have Too hard an InterpreB-
' tion ; and have I not (et down the Reafon llist
' moved me in my Speech, that is to fay, that fe
' the Receiving and Accepting that Meflage, GoJ
' has poured fo great Indignation upon us, ihatb
into the Queen's Majefty's Heart to leftife
' good and wholcfome Laws for her own Prefer-
'du i which caufed many loving and feitbfijl
' Hearts, for Grief, to bmft out with forrowful
' Te;irs ; and moved all P.ipills, Traitors tii Goi
'■ to her Majefty, and toeverygood Chriftiap Ga-
' Vernment, in theit Sleeves to ]augh the whole
' Pir-
0/- E N G L A N D. soj
' Parliament-Houfe to fcorn. Have 1 not thusq,
' (aid i and do not your Honours think it did fo ? '
Com. ' Yes truly. But how durlt you lay,
' ihat the Queen's Majefty had unkindly abufed
' herfclf againft the Nobility and People ? '
IFml. ' I befcech your Honours, tell me how
' far you can ftreich thefe Words of her unkind-
' \y abufing and oppofing herfelf againft liei Ma-
' jelly's Nobility and People? Can you apply
' ihem any further than I have applied them, that
' istofay, in that her Majefty called the Parlia-
' mentof purpofe to prevent traiterous Perils to her
' Perfon, and for no other Caufe ; 2nd in that her
' Majefty did fend unto us two Bills, willing us to
' uke our Choice of that we liked beft for her Ma-
' jefty's Safety, and thereof to make a Law promi-
* ling her Royal Confent thereunto ; and did we
' nolfirft chufe the one, and her Majefty refufed
' il t yet did not wc neverthelcfs receive the o-
* tlier ? and agreeing to make a Law thereof, did
' not her Majefty, in the End, refufe all our Tra-
' vels ? And did not the Lord Keeper, in her
' Majefty's Prefence, in the Beginning of the Par-
* liamenl, (hew this to be the Occafion that we
* were called together ? And did not her Majefty,
' in the End of the Parliament, refufe all our Tra-
' vels ? Is not this known to all here prefent, and
'to all the Pai 1 lament- Houle alfo? I befcech
' your Honours diftharge your Confciences herein,
' and utter your Knowledge fimply as I do ; for in
* Truth herein her Majefty did abufe her Nobility
' »nd Subjefls, and did opjHjfe herfelf againft them
' by the Way of Advice.-
Cam. ' Surely wc cannot deny it ; you fay
' the Truth.'
IVint. ' Then 1 befeech your Honours fliew
' me if it were not a dnngerous Doing to her Ma-
' jcfty in thefe two Refpei^ls. Firft, in weakening,
' wounding, and difcouraging the Hearts of her
' Majefty's loving and faithful Subjedts, thereby to
* make them the lefs able or the more fearful and
' unwilling lo feive her Majefty, another Time.
' On
2o6 The 'Pnrl'mmcntary Histort
QowiEiittbedi. - On the other Side, was it nut a Rai/iiig-up and
'S7S- ' Encouraging the Hearts of her MajeRv's hateful
' Enemies to adveniure any delperate Enterpnzeto
* her Majefty's Peri! and Danger ? '
Cam. ' Wc cmnoideny but that it was very
* dangerous to her Majelly in thofe Refpefts.'
IVent. ' Then why do your Honours ask ho*
' I dare tell a Truth, to givu the Qiicen's Majefty
' Warning to avoid her Dinger ? *
* I anfwer you thus, i do thank the Lord my
* God, that I never found 'P'ear in myfelf to give
* the Queen's Majefty Warning to avoid her Dan-
' ger ; be you all afraid thereof if you will, fori
' praife God I am not, and 1 hope never to live to
' fee that Day ; and yet I will aflure your Ho-
' tiour, that twpnty Times and more, when I
* walked in my Grounds revotvinj; thisSpc-ech to
' prepare againit this Day, my own fearful Conceit
* did fay unto me, That this Speech would carry
* me !o the Place whither I (h.i!l tiow go, and
' Fear would have moved me to have put it out,;
* then I weighed whether in good Conicience, and
' the Duly of a faithful SubjeiSl, I might keep my-
* felfout of Prifon,and not to warn my Prince from '
' walking in a dangerous Courfe ; my Confcience^
' faid unto me. That I could not be a faithful Sub*
' ]eiX, if I did more refpcdt to avoid my own Dan'
* ger than my Prince's Danger. Here withal 1
' was made bold, and went forward as your HtW
' nours heard ; yet when I uttered ihofe Words H
' the Houl'e, That there was none without FaulC
' no not our noble Queen ; I pauled and t>ehel<liU
* your Countenances, and law plainly thatthoiSj
' Words did amaze you all ; then I was a^id,
' with you for Company, and Fear bade me to piM
' out thof'e Words that followed, for your Counte-
* nances did ailure me, that not one of you wouli
' flay me o( my Journey; yet the Confiderai
* of a good Confcience, and of a faithful Subj
' did make mehold toutter it in fuch Sort as yoi
' Honours heard ; withthis HeartandMind I fpafcA
' it, and I praife God for it, and if it were to doi
' again \
Of ENGLAND. 107
igainlwould with the fame Mind fpeak it again- QucenEK«beth.
Cm. * Yea, but you might have uttered it in 1575.
)etter Terms ; Why did you not fo r '
Went, * Would you have roc to have done as
^ou of her Majefty's Privy- Council do, to utter
I weighty Matter in fuch Terms as fhe fhould
lot have underftood ? To have made a Fault, then
t would have done her Majefty no good, and
ny Intent was to do her good/
Com. ' You have anfwered us.*
Went. * Then I praife God for it ; and, as I
nade a Courtefie, MrSeci/ord fpake thclc Words :
Com, • Mr ^^w/w^/A will never acknowledge
limfelf to make a Fault, nor fay, that he is forry
or any Thing that he doth fpeak ; you (hall
iear none of thefe Thing? come out of his
Mouth/
ffint. * Mr Seckford^ I will never confefs that
ro be a Fault, to love the Queen's Majefty, while
[live ; neither will I be forry for giving her Ma-
efty Warning, to avoid Danger, while the
Breath is in my Body : If you do think it i Fault
lO love her Majefty, or to be fony that her Ma-
^fty (hould have Warning to avoid her Danger,
ay fo ; for I cannot. Speak for yourfelf, Mr Seek-
ford:
* The next Day MrTreafurer, in the Name of
e Committee Yefterday appointed for the Ex-
nination of Peter Wentworth^ Burgefs for Trego-
', declared. That the faid Committee did meet
cfterday in the Afternoon, in the Star-Chamber,
cording to their Commiflion ; and there exami-
ng the faid Peter IVeniworth^ concerning the vio-
nt and wicked Words, Yefterday pronounced by
im, in this Houfe, touching the Queen's Majefty,
ade a Collection of the fame Words ; which
i^ords fo collected, the faid Peter JVentworth did
^knowledge and confefs. And then did the faid
It Treafurer read unto the Houfe the faid Note of
Wledlion } which being read, he declared further,
"bat the &id Peter JP'entivorth being examined,
r/hat
m
208 T/iti TaHitifKei/tary Hin To v^Y
QoetDEiiMbcih. vi'hatiie could fay for the Extenuating of his faid
^S7S- Fault and Offence, r ould neither fay any thing at
ali to that Purpole, neither yet did charge any otlirr
Perfon as Autliorofhis fjid Speech, but did take all
the Burthen ihereofunlo himfelf. And ihefaid
Mr Treafurer thereupon moved for his Punifh-
menr, and Imprifonment in ihe Tozver, as the
Houfe fiiould thmk good and coniiderof : Where-
upon, after fund ry Difpuiations and Speeches, it
was ordered, upon the i^eftion, that thefaidA-
ter l^tntwsrth (hould be committed Clole Prifoner
to [he ToiL'er, for his Offence, there to remain uaiil
fuch Time as this Houfe ftould have further Con-
fideration of him. And thereupon immediate!;^
the faid Peter Wenlworth, being brought to iheBar
by the Serjeant, received his faid Judgment accor-
dingly, by the Mouth of Mr Speaker, in Forma-
Mt. Wfnt^urth hove recited. And fo Mr Lieutenant of the Imir
^mitiedioihe ^^.33 prefently charged wiih the Cuftody of the faid
PtUr Wenlvjorth.'
The Affair of his Enlargement from the Tewtr,
will appear in the Sequel.
The fame Day, Feb. gih, the Houfe came to
ihi? Refolution, ' 'I'hat if any Perfon, being a
' Member of the fame, w.ns employed in the
* Service of Emhailage, or in Execution, orvifiied
' with Sicknefs, he (hall not lofe his Seat in ilie
' Houfe, nor any other be elefted for it, during
' fuch Time of Service, Execution, or Sicknefs,'
AlfOjthe Lord J2a/?^/, Son and Heir lo the Ear! of
Bedford, Burgefs for Bridport, in the County of
iJiJ'j/^/, was ordered to continue a Member of that
Houfe s not with ilanding the new-acquired Earl-
dom of his Father.
S\{ If^alter Mildmay, Chancellor oftheExche'
r quer, on ihe Motion for a Grant of a SubCdy lo
her Majefty, fpoke as follows :
Mr. Speaker.,
ffirWalterMild-' TT^HAT in the Beginning of this our Meeting
may'! Speech for ' J|_ fuch Matters Hs be of Importance may be
> st^dj. . thought on in Time, I am bold with your Favouri
to piove you of one that, in my Opinion, is both
" of
/Moment and of Neceffity. To the End, if QacenERitbedi.
OQ likewifc find the fame to be fo, you may '57s-
imunit it further to the Confideration of fuch
jfou (ball think convenient.
And that you may the better judge of that
hich 1 fliall propound, it is requifite that I put
» in Remembrance, Firft, how the Qjieed
and the Realm ^ next, how (he hath reftored
td conferved it ; and. Thirdly, bow we (Und
nr. Touching the firft, no Man can be igno^
Qt how that our moil gracious Queen, at her
itcnng, found this noble Realm, by reafonttf
e trUi Government preceding, miferably orer-
hdmed with Popery, dangerouily afflidledwith
^ar, and grievouily loaded with Debts 3 the
artben of which Three^caniK>t be remembered
id^t Gfief, efpecially'if we call to Mind boW
m KLingdoiti, being utterly delivered from the
tirped Tyranny of Rorm^ and that many Yeartf
getber; was» never theleis, by the Iniquity of
ter Time^ brought back again ifito the formed
aptivity, to the great Thraldom both of Bod^
td Soul of all the People of this Land. A
retched Time, and wietched Miniftets, to bring
) pals fo wretched and wicked an AGt tO
iCDgthen this Bondage of Rome. We few bow
leie was brought hither a ftrong Nation to prefi
V Necks again into the Yoke ; tefrible tbisf
as to all the Inhabitants of this Land, and (b
oold have proved. If their Abode h^d btea
3e fo long as was to be feared from them ;
«r by their Occafion came the War that wc
X&xifi into with Ftanci and Scotland^ and not
pop any Quarrel of our own ; but to help tbemi
vward to their great Advantage, and our great
ols and^ Shame ; by Means whereof, and of
tber Diforders, the Realm grew into great Debt
oth at Home aifd Abroad, and fo was left j to'
)c intolerabfe Lofs and Charge of her Majefty
Bd the State. The Re^lm being thus mifera*
It oppreffed with Popery, with War, and with
)cbts, the Quieen^ our moft gracious Sovereign,*
Vol. IV, O hatH
210 The TarfiamcntJry History
QoeeBEiiuheth. ' h.iih ihus reftoied and eonfervcd U; {he halh
•57S' t delivered us from ihe tyrannous Yoke of Rpme
* and reilored again the molt Holy Religion of ih.
' Golpel, not flicking any Time therein j bu
* even, at the iirlt, doing that which was for th
* Ho^our of God, to the unfpeakable Joy of s,
' good Siibje<5ts.
' But adventuring thereby the Malice of the
' mighty Princes of Ihe World, her Neightoiira
* being Enemies of our Religion ; whereby it Hi
* appear how much fhe preferred the Glory of
' our God before her own Quietncfs ; This done,
' ihe made Peace with France' znd Scotland, the
' one a mighty Nation, the other, though not fo
' potent, yet in regard of their Nearnefs and of
' their Habitation with us upon our Continent,
* more dangerous: Which may cafily appear by
* Confideraiion of former Times, wherein it halt
* been feen how dangerous Scottijh Wars have
* proved to ihis Realm above thole of any olhcr
* Nation. Hut fuch hath been the Providence of
* our gracious Queen, as the Peace with Sal-
I * land, which, in Times pall was found veiy
' tickle, is now become fo firm as in no Age there
' hath been fo long and fo good Peace between
* Ihem and us.
' And that is brought to pafs the rather for lh)t
* her Majcfty, by two notable Exploits with hrt
' Forces, the one to Leiih, and another to Edw
* burgb-ili^le, hath both quieted that Realm, and
* taken away all Occafions of Hoftility that mighl
' arifc againft this Country ; alfo by the firft deli-
' vermg Scuiland from the French which had ft
* great a Footing there, as, without Aid from
' Jience they mult needs in (hort Time have tyran-
' nized over thai Country to their perpetual Savi-
' rude, and to the Peiil alfo of this Country, Iw-
* ing lb near them, and they (6 ill Ni^ighbours to
* dwell by. And by the lecond, ending and put-
' tingout theFireof theCivilWarsamongftihcra,
' to the Prelervation of their young King, and [lit
' perpetual Quietnels of that Realm,
n, both wbu
J
0/^£ K G L A N D. an
13 they have brought unto her Majelly great and Queen Eiiabcil«
mmortal Honour and Renown, and to this ii75*
Country and that. Peace and Surety ; So you
rannot but think therewith upon the Charges
vbich ncceflarily follow two fuch Journeys fur-
liflied by Land and Sea, as for the atchieving of
b great Enterprizes was requifite. What her
iJqcfty hath done befides, for the Suppreffing of
dangp-ous and unnatural Rebellion pradtifed by
he Pope, the mod principal and malicious Ene-
iy of this State, and put in Ure by certain un-
Qtiful Subjects in the North Parts of this Realm^
ws feen fo late, even in your View, as it need-
di not to be remembred 5 neither the Charge
lot belongeth to a Matter of fuch Importance, as
id threaten the utter Ruin to our moft gracious
overeign, and Jto all the People of this Land, if
rod, of his Mercy, had not prevented it.
Notwithftanding all which coftly Journeys^
Xh into Scotland and within the Realm, het
lajefty hath moft carefully and providently de-
^cred this Kingdom from a great and weighty
>ebt, wherewith it hath been long burthened*
Debt begun four Years, at leaft, before the
•eath of King lienry VIII, and not cleated
ilil within thefe two Years ; and all that whil^
Aning upon Intereft ; a Courle able to eat up
tonly private Men and their Patrimonies, but
lb Princes and their Eftates ; but fuch hath
tn the Care of this Time, as Her Majefty and
e State is clearly freed from that eating Corro-
t; the Truth whereof may be teftified by the
i(i£ens of London^ whofe Bonds, under thd
ornmon Seal of the City, of Afl'urance of Pay-
«nt being ufually given and renewed, and which
tve hanged fo many Years to their great Dan-
t^ and to the Petil of the whole Traffick, are
>w all difcharged, cancelled, and delivered into'
6 Chamber of London^ to their own Hands.
''Means whereof the Realm is not only acquit-
\ of this great Burthen, and the Merchantsi
6) but alio her Majeftv's Credit thereby both
O' a • at
^
ail The Tarliamentary Histori
Q«M Eiinbtih. ' Home and Abroad greater than any other Prim
IS7J. ' for Money, if flic have Need ; and fo in Reaia
' it ought to be, for that fhe haih kept Promife K
' all Men, wherein oiher Princes have often hieo
* to the Hindrance of many. Laftly, for ihja
' Point how the Juftice of this Realm is prelervcd
' and miniftred to her People, by her Majefty's
' Political and jiift Governmenc, is fo vvelltnowo
*■ to all Men, as our Enemies are driven to confeis
* that Juftice, which is the Band of all Common-
* Wealths, doth fo tie and Imlf together all De
' grees of Perfons within this Land, as there is
' AifTered here no Violence, no Oppteflion, no
* Rcfpedl of Perfons in Judgment i bui 'J us i^na-
* bile ufed to all indifferenily. All which godl^*
' provident and wife Afts in Government, have
* brought forth thefe Eftedts that we be in PeacWi
* and al! our Neighbours in War ; that we be iC
* Qiiietnefs at Home, and fafe enough from Trou-
* bles Abroad ; ihat we live in VVealih and il"
' Profperily. and ihat which is the greateft, v*
' enjoy the Freedom of our Confcientes delivered
' from the Bondage o( Rome, wherewith we wer«
* fo lately opprefled. And thus we fland,
' But, for al! this, as wife Mariners in calm W»-
■ ther do moft dilioenily prepare their Tackles
' and provide to wiihftand Attempts that may hap*
* pen : Even fo in this our biefll-d Time of Peac*
* that we enjoy, by the Blefling of God, throuit
* the Miniftry of her Majefty, we ought in Tim*
* to make Provifion to prevent any Storm th»'
* may arife either here or Abroad j and neither t<:
' be too carelcfs or ncgligtni, but think thacilx
* Tail of ihele Siorms, which are fo bitter andfc
' boifterous in other Countries, may reach us alffc
* before they be ended; efpecrally if we do not for'
' get the Hatred that is born us by ihc Adverfary
* of our Religion boih for our Profefiion, and fo'
* that this Realm is alfo a merciful Sandtuary fof
* fuch poor Chriftians as fly hilher for Succour;
• • fo as now one of the moft principal Cares that
S we ought 10 Cake in this great Council of ihcl
' Rcflln
0/ E N G I. A N D. 213
' Realm is both to confider aforehand tlie Dangers Qu«n^li«b»th.
' ihatmay come by the Malice of Enemies, and 'S^^'
'to provide in Time how to reiilt thcmj and
' f«ing that by [hofe great OcCdilons which I have
' ranembred, you can eafily undcrftand how low
IwMajelly's Coffers are brought, it is our Paris
frankly and willingly to offer unto her M^jeity
fucb a Contribution as flial! be able to reftorcthe
fazncagain, in Tuch Son as fbe may be fulficienily ^
fbtnidied of Treafure to put in Order, and inain-
Ma her Forces by Land and Sea, to anfwer any
Thing that flial! be attempted againft her and
And left it might feem ftrange to fome
her Majeily fliould want this, fome conli-
ifcring that not long (jihence Aid was granted by
the Realm: To ihat I anfwer. That albeit her
lajefty is not to yield an Account how fhe
IpcEuielh her Treafure ; yet, for your Satisfac-
tioni, I will let yoii undurftand Juch Thirgs as
We very true, and which I dare affirm, having
Biote Knowledge thereof than fome other, in
" ' ~ of the Place I hold in her Majelly's
Firft, hov/ favourable the Taxations of Subli-
mit! be through the whole Realm cannot be un-
nwn to any ; whereby far lefs cometh to her
ijefty's Coffers than by the Law is granted, a
liter now drawn to be fo ufiial as it is hard to
reformed. Next, the Clearing of^all Debts
that run upon Intereft, to the infupportable
Charge of the Realm. Thirdly, the Charge in
Buppteflingthe Rebellion in the North. Fourth-
f, the free and honourable Repayment of the
Ift Loans, the like whereof was not feen before,
fifthly, the Journey 10 EdiiiiiR-gh'Ca&le for the
juieting of that Country and this. And, Laftly,
he great and continual Charges in Ireland, by the
vil Difpolition of the People there j all which
ould not have been performed by the laft Aid,
iccpt it had pleaied her Majeily to fpare, out ot
Ef oun Revenues, gicatSums of Money for the
tpplying of that which lacked, wherein fhe
O % more
J
^
214 "^^^^ Tarliamentary History
Cl.MnEliiabeth, t j^oK rcTpefled the Realm than her own particu
'^^^' * lar Eftatc; living, as you lee, in molt lempetal
* Manner, without ciiherBuildioa; or other I'upei
' fluous Things of Plealure ; and like as thefe fc
' Caufes Tuffident to mov; you to devife how ihe
' Wants may be repaired, lb you ought the rath-
* to do it, for that her Majefty lackcth and canm
' have, without great Inconvenience, thofe Htlp!
* which, in the Times of her Father, her Broihe
* and Sifter, were ufed i as the Abaling of Coin.
* which brought infiniieSunis lo them, but wroughi
' great Damage to the Realm, which we yel feels
* and iliould do morf, had not berMiijefty, to her
* perpetual Fame, reftored the fame again, )b
' much as the Time coulJ fuffer. The Sale of
' Lands, whereof came alfo very great Sums of
' Money, but that is not hereafter to be ufed; fa-
* ving that by the fame the Revenues of the Croivn
' aregreatlydiminifhed, which it cannot more bey,
' the Borrowing of Monev upon Inicreft, the Bur-
' then whereof the Realm hath felt fo heavy, asthal
' is never more to be done, if, by any Means, it pay
' be avoided. And yet, notwithflanding all ibofc
* Helps, it is apparent ttiat Subfidies were continually
' granted in thofe Times ; if fo then, much morefc
^ now, BefidesWarandoiherextraordinaryCharge
' which may happen, her Majefty's very ordinary
' Charges, which fhe cannot but fuftain, are &'
* greacer, by Dearth of Price? and other Occaiionsi
^ ihan in wny other Piince's Davs ; as you may fe*
' by the ordinary anfl aniiu il Charges of the Hcul'
^ hold, the Na(7, the Ordnance, the Armory
' iheGatrifon of Berwick, the ftandingGarriliJt
* and Officers within the Realm of I'dar.d. An*
' whether thefe are like to be more coftly to be
* Majefty than in former Times, in refpedtof Ih"
* Prices of all Things, let every Man judge by ih
'■ Experience he haih of his private Expcnce^
' And lo to draw to an tnd foravoidingof yo
' Troulile I tii.a ihefe fov Tbiniis may fuff i--
' to remember us how her Majerty fcund ili'
* Reiilm, how fhe hath reftored and preletved it
* and ho VI' the prefent S;aie is now ; and therewitl
or E ?^ '^ Z. r. 7" r .1-:
ill EFT er»5 ai Il-k::!:: y^-jizz : T rrr'iiiat = i -
tods? it th£3 Tceci:arr'Luic* t l:z !.. 'Sir
T> •
riyzpodnnm: cr-v." -•. i.. :.- _ :.«:.::
fq; US'*" OiirLax c" vrt. ir*'.: r T-cz.^riirr-M. :..*
fcrwsrs L'j-L E^. -I'nnirtl:,*: • i:r; .-..-..
as a ?.IcnD=r IT tr.*! un>t. 7: i.^: zt 1/- - .:..
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cEveiDScTirv* liitirr; r^r-f rir aM-»i:':' . -i: —
6)r tbeikrit, biii r»i:rr ri-rrin::':-:*: Pr.'-Ti- l: rhr
Difple3.:';7£ fir irs* ni.i 1>5n-r: . jr;i :: :; cr :hf -v. - >.r-:.- ?
EnlargEser: j^tie ^-" - '^ H. «i* ' ^'^^nur i>.!c^rfc.
lellage wk mu£ tssiiiirulj 2-j^:e:: c: rv :;«
^fe Houie.
Aftcrwsras, Sir TTchr 7i^:^7riS\^ Chrir^relij: o:'
ie Excheguc, ri'Jt ur 2nc :p:>iLr af icii j\^> :
I Think tbEt rv this vbolf Afii.ir* and pv hfr snWairr MW-
Majcftv^ Dei'ir^g :r. :hii: CauL, vre had juft «»»'* ^p«^»
OccafiDH to cor^ Jr- ineie :hree Thirg? - * **'*^'
* I. HcrMaiefty'tgood and clement Naturc-
* n. Her ReVpeS :c us. And,
* III. Our Duty towards her.
* Touching ihe Firft, Thai Soverrign Princcf^*
placed by God, are to be honoured \v:rh all h^
ble and dutiful Reverend', both in Wore?
Deed, cfpecially if they be good and virtuou
as our mol gracious Soverci;;n L • a Print
21 6 The Parliamentary History
ftjjMn Eliubeth ' hath governEd this Realm fo many Years, Tq
quietly, fo juftly and providentiv ; which being
true, as no Man can deny, thin ice how great an
Offence this was, to reprove fo good and gracious
a QucEO fo unjuftlf, and ihat to be done not by
any common Peilon abroad, but by a Member of
ihi3 Houfe ; and not in any privaie or fectet
Place, but openly in this moft honourable Aflem-
bly of the Parliahient, being the higheft Court
and Council of the Realm. Ard thereby fee al-
fo her moft gracious and good Nature, that fo
mercifully and lb calily can remit fo great an Of-
fence } a Thing rarely found in Princes of lb great
Eflate, '.hat ufe commonly to think ihemfelves
touched in Honour, if they fliould pafsover fmal-
ler Injuries fo lightly. The greater is hcrMa-
jcfty'a Commendation ; and the more arc we
bound to thank God for her.
' Secondly, We may fee what gracious Refped
her Majefty had to us, that notwithftanding the
juft Caufe th.1t was given her to punifli ieverely fo
great an Offence; yet the Favour that Qie had
conceived towards us, proceeding from the juft
Trial of our dutiful Affedions towards her, had fo
qualified her Difpleafure, as flie was contented,
for our Sakes, to pardon the whole; and that fo
freely, as (he would not, at any Time, think of it
again, for ihofe weie her Words; a marvellous
Grace towards us, and never hereafter, on our
Parts to be forgotten ; the rather for that the fame
proceeded merely from herlelf, thereby preven-
ting the Suit, which we, in all Humblenels,
might have made unto her.
' Thirdly, That for fo gracious a Dealing, it
was, our bounden Duties to yield unto her Maje-
fty our moft humble and hcaT'ty Thanks, and to
bcfcech Almighty God to enlarge her Days as
iheonly Stay of our felicity ; and not only io
but to learn alio, by this Example, how lo behav?
purlclves hereafter; and not under the Pretence
of Liberty to forget our bounden Duty to fo gra-
cious a Queen - True it is, that nothing can be
well Concluded in a Council where there is not al-
' lowed
1
I
k
0/ E N G L A N D.
* lowed, in debating of Caufes brought in, Delibe-QjiunElU»Uth.
' ration, Liberty, and Freedom of Speech; other- tSTS-
* wife, if in Confultation Men be either interrupted
* or terrified, fo as they cannot, nor dare not,
* fpeal; their Opinions freely, like as that Council
' cannot but be reputed fora fcrvile Council } even
' fo all the Proceedings therein fljail be rather to
' fatisfie the Will-i of a few, than todetermine that
* which (hall be juft and reafonable. But herein
' wc may not forget to put a Difference between
* Liberty of Speech, and licentious Speech ; for
* by the one Men deliver their Opinions freely, and
' with this Caution, That all be fpoken pertinently,
* modeftly, reverently, and difcreetty; the other
' contrariwife uttereth all impertinently, rafhiy,.
* arrogantly and irreverently, without Refpeift of
* Perfon,Ti[ne, or Place: And the' Freedom of
* Speech hath always been ufcd In this Great Coun-
' cil of Parliament, and is a Thing moft neceflary
* to be preferved amongft us ; yet the fame was
* never, nor ought to be, extended fo far, as
* though a Man In this Houfe may fpeak what and
' of whom he lift. The contrary whereof, both
' in our own Days and in the Days of our Prede-
* cefibrs, by the Punifhment of fuch inconriderate
* and dilbrderly Speakers, hath appeared. And fo
* to return, let this ferve us lor an Example, to be-
' ware th.U we offend not in the like hereafter, left
' thai in forgetting our Duties fo far, we may give
^ juft Caufe to our graciou'i Sovereign to think that
' this her Clemency hath given Occafion of further
* Boidnefs ; and thereby io much grieve and pro-
* voke her, as contrary to her moft gracious and
* mildConfideration, flie be conftrained to change
' her natural Clemency into neceflary and juft
' Severity; a Thing that 1 truft (hall never
^ happen amongft wife and dutiful Men, fuch as
* the Members of this Houie are thought always
* to be.'
A Motion had been made in the Houfc of Com-
jnons this Seliion, on the old Topic of prefling the
C^een
J
The SpralH
commrnds
2i8 The ^Parliamentary Histort.
,, Queen to marry ; but the Houfe did not think pro-
per to venture another Petition on it, but agreed,
that at the Conclufion of the SefTion, the Speaker
ftioiild move her Majefty about iL Accordingly,
on May 14th, we are told, that in the Afternoon,
the Queen came to the Houfe of Lord?, where
their Speaker, Rsbin Bel), Etq; prefenied the
Bill of or\z Subfidy, nnd two Fifteent is and tenths.
The Particulars of which, being omitted by the
Clerk, ate fupplied by Sir SimaWj U'fiww ; who
tells us, ' That the Speaker's Speech was to the,
following Eifefl :
Firji, ' He ("poke touching Tundry Kinds of Go-
vernment, which had been in this Kingdom ; and
Quetn to fo drewhis Diicourfc toihe prefcnt Time. Then
'*"''' he made alarge Enumeraiioti of her Majefty's ma-
ny Virtues, and of the many Benefit? which ihe
K-ngdom received by her gracious Governraent.
After which he proceeded humbly to petition her
Msjefly, to rrialtc the Kingdom further happy in
her Marriage, that fo they might hope for aconii-
nual Succeflion of thofe Benefits in her Pofterity.
To which, hnving added a compendious Relation
oficch Adhashad polled the Houfe of Commons,
he concluded with the Prefentation of the Bill of
Subljdy, in their Names, unto her Majefty.'
After which, the Lord Keeper, by her Majefly's
Commandment, anfwered as foUowcih :
Mr, Spealir^
-1. . ^^i * rr^HE Queen's Maieftv, our mod Dread and
"ht Lord Clrni- . I -^-n -■'Jji.i.i. j .
rilor'sSpotchat X. Ciracious boveTeign Lady, hain heard and
heciofeoi" ihe ' doth vetv Well underftand your Oration, full of
=^^"- * Good-Will and Matter. The Sum thereof may
' be reduced into five Parts, whereof the firftcon,-
' taineth a Difcourfe of llindry Kinds of Govern-
' raent, from the Beginning until thisTime. The
' Second, the Commendations of her Majefty's
' Virtues, and of her great and gr.icious Govern-
• ment from the Beginning, with a Remembrance
*■ ofherHighncfs'sbouniiful Benefi[s. TheThircf,
' con-
0/ E N G L A N D. aiy
' concerning the humble and eaineft Petition mov-'^""^^'"'**'
* ing her Majefty to marry. The Fourth is a De- '"^'
* claration of Lawspaft in ilie Lower-Houfe, with
' an humble Suit for her Highnefs's Royal Allent to
* be given unto the fame. The Fifth and laft,
* concerning a Pfefeniation of the Subfidy granted
' in this SelFion.
' As concerning the Firft, which containeth the
* Difcourfe of fundry Kinds of Government, I
' fee not that this Time and Place doih require
' any Anfwer to be given unto it other than this;
' that you, Mr. Speaker, are much to be com-
' mended for your diligent Collecting, and alfo for
' the apt Comparing of the laft Part of the fame.
' And as Eo the Second, which concerneth the
* Commendations of her Majefty's great Vir:ues
* and good Government, with the Remembrance
* of the manifold Benefits that you have received
' at her Majefty's Hand, her Highnels hath com-
* manded mc to fay unto you, that fhc wifheth of
' GoJ with all her Heart, that all thofe Royal ■
* Virtues and piincipal Parts, together with the
* great Gifts of grncious Government that you
* make -mention of, were fo perfectly planted in
* her, as beft might ferve to the Maintenance of
' God's Glory, from whom herMajefty confefleth
' all GooJncfs to proceed ; and beft alfo might ferve
* for the good Governance of you her good, !ov-
* ing and obe^^ient Subjefts; and withal, prayeth '
' vou with her, nnd for her, to give God hearty
* Thanks for thofe Virtues and Graces that it hath
* pleafcd him to blefs her withal ; and alfo to pray
* for the Continuance of them with fuch Increafc,
* as (hall belt like his Divine Majefty. And be-
* fides this, I may, and dare certainly affirm unto
* you, by her Majefty's own Mouth, that if the
' Virtues of all the Princes in Europe were united
* within her High;.;fa's Breall, Ihe fliould gladly
' em]iioy the fame to the beil of her Power about
* the good Gf'vei .ince of y u, that be fo good
' and loving unto hen fo <c:reat is her Highnefs
* Good-Will and inward Afleftion toward you.
1
320 T7}e Tarliameiitary Histort
__ ' Again true it is, that there your loving and reve-
' rend Conceivings of the virtuous and gracious
' Government of your Sovereign, is taken by het
' Majefty in very thanltful Part, as a Jpecial and
* peculiar Property pertaining to faithful and lov
* ing Siibjefts; neither will her Higbnefs admit of
* any Occafion that may move you to conceive
* otherwife th^in you have: Neither do I think
' ihat any Mrsn can devife any more ready, or any
' more ftrong Perfualion to move a Princely Na-
' ture to be fuch towardi her Subjedts as they can
' wilh, than by fuch good, reverend and loving
* Conception and Conceiving remerabred by you.
* To conclude, as touching this Point, I am to af-
* firm unto you from her Majefty, that flie takeih
* your Proceedings in the Parliament, both in the
* Midlf, and alfo in the Ending, fo gracioujir, and
* in fo ihankTul Pan, that if both Parts and Nature
' did concur in me E.bundiiniiy to make me elo-
* quent (as neither of them do) >et I am fure, I
* were notable lo fet forih ihis Point according to
* her Highnefs' Defi.e, or to the Worthinefs of it.
* And for the niwrt.- manifeft Declaraiion of this,
* and of the great Good- Liking her Majefty hath
* conceived of you that be of this Parliament, her
^ Highnefs meaneih not to determine the fame, but
' 10 prorogue it unlil the next Winter. And as
' to Cognizance and Recognizance of Benefits,
* her Majefty's Pleafure i::, that I ftiould declare
* unto you, that there is none of thefe Benefits
* received by you, but (he wifheth them treble in
* Number, and quadruple in Greatnefs and Good-
» nefs. And further, her Highnefs thinketh thai
' the faithful Recognizing of Benefits received, is
' one of the greateft Satisfaflions that a Subjefl can
' make to his Sovereign lor them. And as to the
* Third, which concerneih your humble eatneft
* Petition, il proceedeth from your inward AScc-
* tions and benevolent Minds, founded upcj| the
* great good Opinion that you have conceived of
' her Majefty's moft gracious Government over
^ you, according to the Declaration made br you,
' a Ma,t-
0/ E N G L A N D. 211
' a Matter greatly moving her Majcfty [he rather Q^,^ai„^yj,_
' to allow of your Petition. 1575.
' The feconJ Note importeth yet more than
' this ; for ihereiii (he conceiveth that this great
' good Opinion of this happy Government is not
* conceived by you, as it appeareth by your own
' Declarations, upon any fudden Ground or Caufe,
' but hath grown upon the Confideration of her
' Highnefs's Governance during the Reign of (even-
' teen Years now paft : Whereby it is evident,
' that this is a fe[tled and conllant Opinion of
' yours, and therefore much the more moving her
' Majefty to give a gracious Ear unto this your
' Petition.
' And yet the third Note exccedeih the other
' two former; for m this Note (he conceiveth the
' Abundance of your inward Affection grounded
' upon her good Governance of you to be lb great,
' that it doth not only content you to have her
' Majcfty reign and govern over you, but alfo you
' do defire, that Some proceeding from her Majef-
' ty's Body might by a perpetual Succellion reigti
' over your Pofterity alio : A Matter greatly to
' move her Majcfty (fhc faith) to incline to this
' your Suit. Befides her Highnefs is not unmind-
' ful of all the Benefits that will grow 10 the Realm
' by fuch Marriage ; neither doth (he forget any
' Perils that are like to g:row for Want thereof.
' All which Matters conlidcred, her Majefty wil-
' led me to fay, that albeit of her own natural
' Difpolition (he is not difpofed or inclined to Mar-
' riage, neither could fhe ever marry were flie a
* private Perlon ; yet for your Sakes and the Bens-
* fit of the Realm, Ihe is contented Co difpoll- and
' incline herfeif to the Satisfaftion of your humbl:
' Peiition, fo that all Things convenient may con-
' cur that be meet for fuch a Mjtriage ; whereof
' there be very many, fome touching the State ot
* her moft Royal Perfon, fome touching the Per-
' fon of him whom God fhall join, fome touch-
* ing the State of the whole Realm: Thefe
* Things concurring and confidcred, her Majefty.
' hath
J
22 2 'The 'Parii wientjty H i sT o fi t
<fe«» Eliiibeih. ' hath afleoteJ (as is before remembred.) And thus
•S7S- ' much toocliing ihis M.uter.
' As to the fourth Part, which concerneth aDe-
* claraiion of the Laws palled in the Selfion, where-
' unio you do pray that her M^jefty would give
' her Roy.il Aflent, her Majefty hath commended
' your Travel and Pains taken in deviiiog of rhefe
* Laws, your Confiderations and Carefulnels ia
' debating and confulting, and your Judftments and
' Determinations in concluding and palling of the
* fame; and meaneth to give her Royal Aflent to
* fo many of iheni as her M.ijelly fhall think meet
' and convenient to pafs at this Time. But here I
' am to remember you, chat this is not all that her
' Highnefe req dreth in this Point ; for ihe is defi-
' rous that the great Travels, Pains, and great
' Charges employed about the making of ihcfc
* Laws (hould not be loft, neither her Majefty's
' Royal Aflent granied in vain ; which muft needs
' come to pafs, except yoii look better to the Exe-
* culion of LawK than herifrcfure vdu K j done ;
' for as I have before this Time laid, Laws wiih-
' out Execution, be nothing elfe but Pen, Ink and
* Parchment ; a Countenance of Things, and no-
' thing in Deed; a Caule without an Effedt; and
' feri'c as much to the good Governance of the
' Common- Wtal, as ihe Rudder of a Ship doth
' feive to the g'lod Governance of it without a
' Governor; and fo fei ve to as good Purixjfe to
' diiett Men's Aftions. as Toiches do to diredl
' Men's Goings in the Daik, wlien tlieir Lights be,
' put out. Were it not great Folly, trow ye, yea,
* and mere Madnels for a Man to provide apt and,
' handfome Tools and Inflrumcnts to reform and
' prune his Trees withal, and then to lay ihem Up
' in fair Boxes and Bags without Ufe of them ?
* And is it not as Itrange, trow ye, lo make Laws
' to reform Men's Manners, and to prune away
* the ili Branches and Members of the Common-
* Weal, and then lo lay up thofe Laws in fair
* Books and Boxes without Execution of them?
* Surely there is a fmall Difference betwixt thefe
' Cafe?;
I
■ Cafes i nay, i: were much better to have no new q
' Laws made at all, ihjn to have Laws not execii-
' led: For the Former doih but leave us in the
' Stats we were in hdfote the making of the new
' Laws; but noL to execute them, is to breed a
' Contempt of Laws and Law-makers, and of
* all Magiftrates, which is the Mother and Nurfe
* of Difobedience; and what {he breedeth and
' bringeth forth, I leave to you to judge.
' Now this Offence of not executing of Laws
' growing fo greii, it refteth lo fee In whofe De-
' fault this is, and who ought to have the BLirihen
* of it. Firft, Ceitain it is, that her Ma jelly leav-
' eth nothing undone meet for her to do for the
* Execution of Law ; for firft, ftie maketh choice
' of Perfons of niofl Credit and belt Underftanding
' throughout the whole Realm, to whom for the
' great Truft and Fidelity that Ihe repoleth in them,
* Sie giveth Authority by CommHIion, to execute
' a great Part of thoi'e Laws, who alfo by Oath be
' bound '': perform the fame. Belides, the moft
* fpecial ailU needful Laws her Highncfs caufeth to
' be proclaimed and publifhed unto her People; as
' over this alfo (left Men ftioutd be forgetful of
' their Duties) ihe caufcth aNumber of her Jufti-
* ces to be called into publick Place, and there to
* be exhorted and admoniflied in her Majefty's
' Name lo fee the Execution of her Laws; and
' what here can be more devifed for her Majefty to
* do? Surely, in my Opinion, nothing.
' Thenfalleth it out neceffarily andconfequent-
' ly, that the Burthen of all thefe Enormities,
* Abfurdities and Mifchicfs that do grow in ihe
' Common-Wealth ior not executing of Laws,
* muft light upon thole Perfons that have Autho-
* rity from her Majefty to execute them and do it
* not: Which is a Burthen over-heavy for any to
* bear, being juftly charged. For the Avoiding of
' this therefore, meihinks. Men being thus remem-
* bred, ought to feek with all bilij;,ence, and en-
* deavour to fat'isfy for their Neglifieuce, and Un-
* catefulnefs paft; which Jl they (hall forget to do.
' hfr
J
ai4 T^^^^ 'Parliamentary Histort.
[h,' her Majefty fliall be then driven, clean contrary
' to her nioft Gracious Nature and Inclination, to
' appoint and aflign private Men, for Profit and
* Gain Sake, to fee her penal Lsa'S to be executed.
' The Courfe which hitherto hei" Majefty hath ta-
* ken, hath been, to have her Laws executed by
* Men of Credit and Eftiraation for the Love of
* Jufticc, uprightly and indiftt'rently j but if they
' fhall refufc ib to do, forgetting their Duty to
* God, Sovweign and Country, then of Necefli-
* ty, rather than the Laws flwuld be unexecuted,
' her Majefty ihall be driven, I fay, to commit the
' Execution- of them to thofe, who in refpeft of
* Profit and Gain, will fee them executed with all
* Extremity. And what a Burthen that will bring
' to the Common- Weal, I leave it ro your Con-
' fideration. But it is to be hoped, that if the
* Refpefts before remembred, will not move you
' to fee better to your Charge ; yet the Fear of this
' great Inconveniency flioutd conftrain Men that
* be in CommiiTion lo look to the better Execution
' of Laws. And thus much touching the fourth
* Part.
' Now as to the fifth and laft, which roncern-
* eth the Grant of a Subfidy, her Majefty hath
* commanded me to fay unto you, that that Grant
' is a manifeft Declaration by Deeds of that which
' before was declared by Words: For haw could
* fuch a Grant be made, and in fuch Mannef
* granted, and by fuch Perfons, but that of Ne-
* ceilicy it muft proceed from the benevolent Minds
* and hearty Affcilions of fuch loving Subjefls as
* are before remembred ? True it is, that her Ma-
* jelly in thefe your Doings hath noted three
' Things efpecially and principally, every of them
' ttnding much to the fetting forili of your Bene-
' voience. The firft. Who it is that granted ;■
* the fccond, The Manner of granting; the
* third, Whdt it was that is granted. As to the
* firft, Her Majefty cannot forget, how this Grant
' proceeded from the earneft Affedtions and hearty
* Good-Wills of her loving and obedient Subjects.
! Where-
Of ENGLAND. 215
Wherefore her Majefty maketh greater Account Queen Eli«ibeili.
thereof than Ten Subfidies, and fo (he command- '57S»
ed me to fay unto you. Again, her Majefty re-
membreth very well, that this Grant was made
not by Subje<3s that never did the like before, but
by Subjedls that have been, and continued to be
ready from Time to Time, to contribute towards
the neceilary Charges and Defence of the Realm ;
which doth greatly commend and fet forth, fhe
faith, this great Benevolence of yours. And as
to the fecond, which is, The Manner of grant*
ing, her Highnefs noteth two Things efpecially ;
the one is Univerfality of Confcnt; and can
there be a more univerfal Confent than when all
agreeing and none denying as this was ? Nay,
her Highnefs knoweth that, before herTime, thefe
Manner of Grants paiTed not but with a great
Perfuaiion and many Difficulties;' whereas this
was frankly offered without any Perfuaiion or
Difficulty at all. The other is the Readinefs of
granting. ' It is written of Benevolence, Bisdai
qui citQ daty which her Majefty faith, may be juft*
ly applied to thefe your Proceedings. And to
the third, which is the Thing granted, {he
taketh it to be as liberal as any lieretofore hath
been granted ; and therefore hath commanded me
to yield unto you her moft hearty condign
Thanks, and wiihal, to let you underfland» that
her 'Majefty is as willing and defirous to give you
this whole Subfidy again, as you have been wil-
ling to grant it, if the Neceffiiy of the Realm
and your Surety would fuflfer it. And thus much
touching the granting of the Subfidy.
* Now as to the due and true Execution of the
fame, I am to exhort and alfo to admonifh you^
and yet it may be probably faid, that Perfons that
have thus bountitully and readily made this Grant,
wherein and whereby thieir benevolent Minds and
hearty Affisftions have been fo manifeftly de-
clared in granting, that to thefe Perfons neither
Admc'nifhments nor Exhortations are due for the
true Executing of that Grant, no more than a
Vol, IV. P ' Spur
2 26 The ^Parliamentary HisTORT
Qiiecn Elizabeth. ' Spur is to 3 Hofib, that runDcth as fwiftly as/w
T575. ' can. Albeit this Argument in Reafon carriecti
* Probability and Likelyhood with it; yctfonnei
' Experience hath taught that ihefe Grants \BStt
* not been fo Huly and truly executed, as they have
* been benevolently granted.'
Aftspaflid. There are the Titlei of thirty -fcven AdbpaJM
this ScflSon, in the Lords Catalogue ; in theprinld
Statutes, only twenty-four ; but the Supemumoa-
ry Afts are only on .private Affair?, for which Rear
fon t^ey are not mentioned. Some farther Caff*
was taken to reform the Abufes of the Clcrgyilf ,
an Ad made for an Explanation of one paflediBi
the laft Seflion, on the fcore of Dilapidations aod
granting Scandalous Leafes ot Spiritual Benefices.
The Queen having palled all the Afts, the Ptf-
liament was adjourned to the next Day ; when, io
the Afternoon, her Majefty came again to tta
Houfe, and the Lord Keeepcr, by her Comtnanl,
Toro l^ef ^''°^P''^^°8"^ ^^^^ Parliament to the slh Day of ift-
' ^"^ * vember next
It is fomewhat furprifing, that fo exaft an An-
nalift of th^s Queen's Reign, as Mr Camtiin
was, fhpuld vi^holly omit the Tranfudlions ofthi»
laft Seffion of Parli sment. It is true, there is litlfc
Hiftorical Matter in ihem, except in the Grant
the Suhjidy ; which, if it was as lai^e as the prim
Statutes make it, is very remarkable ; fince it wit
greater Supply, at one Time, than any we have
with before ; and what ihe State, by any Ex'
ces that Hiftory takes Notice of, feemed not
to ftand in need of.
It was a long Time, indeed, before any far
Su!)ndy was required, nr^J^y l':;rlianient fat to g;
one ; for never fucha Cl^ain of Prorogations, df
P*irliament, was feen in E ngliJJjHi Aoiyy asco
now to be related, ihe Journals of the Lords,
very many Pages together, being filled with no
elie, but Meetings and Prorof^ations, and Comi
ons, at latige, for Prorogations s reciting all tbit
I
0/ E N G L A N D. 127 A
gpne before them, So that the lalt, to their Meeting ^"^Uabtth.
lo do Bufinels, recapituliiea the wholcifrom which '^^^'
we (hall extnft ihem, in Die ad Diem, in Anna ad
Annum, to avoid a PnJixiiy of Matter, fcarce
worth recording at nil, by any, buE an Exprefs
Writer a^Parhamintary Hijlory.
The laft Seflion of" Parliament continued from
February the 8ch to March the 15th i from which
Time it was prorogued to the 5th of November
following, which was ftill in the i8th Year of this
Reign, or /iino 1576 ; Queen Elizabeth beginning
her Reign on the lytii of tJavember, 1558. From
Nevembdr sth, the Parliament was again prorogu-
ed to
An. Reg.
Jan. jotb.
Feb. 2qth.
April 11th,
May 2d.
May ^Qlh.
June yith.
Aug. z^th.
Sept. zotb.
Off. ijtl).
Nsv. ^h.
23, Nav.i^b.
Jan. idth.
An. Rtg. is,Jime zd.
Ffonnhente to
Nov, I2tb.
20, AlarchiSth,
April %th.
M,7y ztth.
Nov ^tf}.
21, Jj't. 2tl.
April 2-jth.
May 20th.
Off. 20th.
12, Nev. 2^th.
Jan. 20th.
Mr Caiibden makes no manner of Mention of
thefe frequent Prorogations, which ic is ftrange a
Cotemporary Hiftorian fliould omit. He reckons
alwaysa Year wrong, too, in his Chronology j be-
ginning wi'.h rhe Almanacks, when it ought robe
from the Day that the late Queen died 5 for
which Renfon. he is ever a Year before us, in his
Annals. But now, in bis ■■ccount of the enfuing
Seflion, he is worfeout; lor he beginf it in January,
inihe J5th Year of this Reign j whereas both the
Lords JouTnah and rhe Statute- Biois make it JulUy ■
the 33d.
We fhall pafp over all the O': urrences which
happened in this long Interval of Time ; in which.
2 28 IheTarliamentary History.
Queen Elizabeth, ^'c may fuppofe, the Government wanted noSup-
1581. plies, fince a Parliament was not allowed to fit
and grant them. It may be thought, that the fa-
mous Sailor, Sir Francis Drake^ had amply filled
the Queen's Coffers, as well as his own, by the vaft
Treafure he had brought from the Spanijh Weft -In-
dhsy about this Time. For which he had that
memorable Honour done him of having his Name,
in a Rsbus^ (lamped on the Englt/h Coin (/).
The fame Parlia- On the i6thof January^ in the 23d Year of £-
XTtwcn^^filli //ztf/'^/*, the fame Parliament which was called in
ft-oro^tions*/**'^^^ i+ih, met once more at JVeftminJier. The
State of the Peerage, as it flood towards the Mid-
dle of this Reign, may not be improper to give at
this Time.
AnnoR^ 23, ^^) Tp^e Qiieen, to miliam Cecil Lord Burgh-
At WeftmbAer. /^;^> Lord High-Treafuref of £«^/«»rf, ^c.
WilSatn Marquifs of Henry Earl of Souths
Winchejkr. ampton .
Edward Earl of Linccln, Francis E. of Bedford.
Lord High- Admiral of Henry E. of Pemroie,
England. Edward E. of Hertford.
Edward Earl of Oxford^ Robert E. of Leicefler.
LdGreatChamberbin. Ihomas Vifcount 'Monta-
Jhomas Earl of Sufjex^ gue.
Chamberlain of the Thomas Vifcount Ho-
Houfhold. ward o^ Byndon,
Philips Earl of Jrundeie, Henry Nevile^ Lord Ber-
Henry E. of Northumber- gavenny.
land. . George Tovchet "L^Audlty,
George E.ofShreiusbi/ry.- Peregritje Bertie 'LdWil-
Henry E. of Kent. loughby of Eresby.
Henry E. of Derby. Edward Parker Ld Mor-
mil am E. oiWorceJlcr. ley,
Edward E. oi Rutland. George Fiennes Ld Dacre.
George E. of Cumberland, William Brooke Ld Cob-
Henry E. oi Huntingdon. ham.
William E of Bath. Edward Ld Stafford.
Jmbrofe E. of Warwick. Arthur Ld Grey o{ Wilton.
Henry
(/) A ^d^ fuppoied^ by our CoonoiiTeurs in Coins^ to reprefeat ^
I Chrake.
* (k) Dugdale*f Summons te Parliament f pt 529«
f
Of E N G L A N D. 129
Henryl-oxA Scrspe oi Bol- Henry Lord Cromwell. ^"'
tm. Wiliiam Ld Evers.
Edward Ld SatUn of Philip Ld TVharWi.
Dudley. Robert Ld i;;V*e.
7ffA» ^i;j7<f Ld Latimer. Charles Ld fVilloughby of
7ffA« Lumley Ld Lumky. Parham.
yobfi Ld Stourton. Thomas Ld Paget.
Job?! Ld Dariie ofChich.
Charks Ld Haward 6F
E£ingham,
Roger Ld M«A.
G//fi BrttgesXA Cbandsis,
Henry Carey, Ld i&«/^
Cutbbert Ld 0^/f.
y^wM S/(ia«( Ld Alouttt-
py.
John Darde Ld Danie.
JFiUiam Stanley, Ld
Msntegk.
William Ld Sanc^J.
WiA"d« Ld r<iHr of
Harrowden.
Frederick Ld //^n^Sr.
Tiemas Ld ffenfwortb
of Nettle/led.
Thomas Ld
O/iwfr Ld Jr 7ii5« ot
Thomas SaekvUeLdBuci-
hurfl.
William Well Ld -D^ /a
WiliiaiTi Paula Li Sty ohn Henry Ld Cheney oiTd-
of Bafing. dingten,
Lewis Ld Mordjiunt. Henry Ld Narrys a{ Ryeet.
Whoever compares lliis Lift of the Peerage with
that in the Begiiinmgofihis Reign, will find that
there had been above twenty new Creations ; which,
with the twenty-fix Bifhops, muft give the Court a
very gi'eat Power in the Houle of Lords in thufe
Days. Nor was ihe Qi,ieen lets pkaled, we may
fuppafe, with the Body of Commons, fince in the
Courfc of fo many Years fhe never thought proper
to change them. However, at ihe Meeting afore-
ineniioned, Deaih had made an Alteration in that
Houfc, by taking from them their Speaker; with-
out which ihey could do no Bufinefs, as was the
Cafe of the !a(t Purliament. A long Reprelentati-
on is entered in the Lords j'car^fl/j, ' concerning a
' great Defefl in the other Houfe, for Want of
* Sir Rekrl Bel!, Kt. Lord Chief Riron of the Ex-
* chequn, their Mouih and Speaker, lately dead.
* JLjt ihat they finding good Diredlion what to do,
,^ ' P3 * fay
130 The Parliamentary History
•an EKiibMh* ^f ^ fofnec Precedent, in a Seilion of Parliament
(581. * holden, Sept. 30lh, in the 8ih Year of her Reign,
* had appoinled Sir Fruncis Kmllcs, Kt. Trcafu-
* rer of the Queen's Houflidld ; Sir Jsiiui Crofls,
' CoraplroUer ; Sir Francis Walfinghnm, and
* Doctor lyilfin, Secretaiies of State ; Sir Walter
* Mildmay, Kt. Chancellor of ihe Exchequer;
' with feveral other McmbefS of the faid Houfe, in
' theName of the whole, to go and wait upon the
* Lord Chancellor and the Houfe of Lords, and
' requcft their Aidan>t Afliftance for Intiraaiionof
* the Matter to her Majefty.
' Then the Lord Chancellor, firft defiring this '
* Committee to withdrawn while, acquainted that
' Houfe with the Petition of the Commons; who,
* after due Confideration of the Piemifles, liioughl
' proper to appoint fuch of the I-ords as were of
* the Privy- Council, with the Marquis QiWmthcf'
' ler and the Eail of AritnAeh, to go along with a
* feled'l Number of the Commons, to reprefent
* this Cafe to the Queen.'
The firft Day, tlie Receivers and Tryers of Peti-
tions being appointed, as aniiently, a Bill was read
for the Reformation of Abufes in Sheriffs and Un-
der-Sheriffs, and their Officers ; which we do not
find pa0fed intoa Law. The Houfe was adjourned
to the 18th : On which Day it is entered, that Ihe
Lord Chancellor produced a CommiHion from the
Queen under the Broad Seal, whereby he was au-"
thorifed to call the Commons before him, and to ,
will and command them to repair to their accuftom-
ed Place, and choofc another Speaker, in the Room
of&ir Unitri Bell, Kt-iaforefaid. But nothing more
is entered in Ihe Lords Journals about this Matter.
Two Bills were brought into the Houfe of Lords
this Selli'jn. the firft was againft Scandalous Words
and Rumours, and other Seditious Praijtices, The
other againft Scandalous Lihels made on the Queen.
The firft palled into a Luw, but we hear no more
of the latter , bur it i? pi'ohable they were both
joined into one, whith, together, formed a Law to
■ this Purpofe ;
• That
1
0/ E N G L A N D. 231
' That if any Pcrfon'ftal! atfvifedly antf with aq
■ malicious Intent, [i>eik any Talfe anil flanderous
' News, or Talt?, agiinft ihe Qufcn thai now, is,
' he ftiall have both his Ears cut off, excenf he pay ja
" two hundred Pounds into the Exchfquir, for the sc
• Queen's Uie, within two Months ai'ter Judg-
'-mcnt. And, if be fpeak fuch fl.indcro'Js Talcs
k^Lon the' Report of any other, he fh.nll have one
cWifhis Ears cut ofF, except he iiay iw-hunJred
7 Marks, i^c. And, if any Perfon, once cnnvidt,
[hail offend ag.im, it fhal) be ^idjudfcd Felony,
f'^'Likewifc, if any Perlon, within ihis R-^alm or
i'lWithour, fliall' devife, write, print, oi fei tonh,
J* any Book, Rhime, B.illad, Letter, or Wri:ing,
^'containing any f-ilfe, fediti ib, an : fl ndcrous
^ .Matter, ro the Defamatic;! of (ln-t^-eer, or rhe
• Stirring or Moving any Rebellion ; cr fh^ll caufe
' any fuch Boo!\, Rhime, Wntinp;, i^c. to be writ-
■ ten, printed or publilhed ; or {hall, by (ettin^of
* any Figure, Crtfting of Nativity, or by Calcutati-
"* on, Prophefying. Wiifbcrafi, Conjuration, Wf.
^ feek to know, and (hall fet forth, by exnrefs
' Wo'ds, Deeds, or Writings, how long the Qi_ieen
' fiiall live ; or who {hall reign, as King or Queen
' after her Deceafe ; or fhall utter any Prophecies
' to any fuch Intent -, or fhal! wi{h or defire the
' Death or Deprivation of the Queen, or any Thing
' to the fame Effed ; then every fuch Offence
' {hall be adjudged Ftkny.'
U is certain that the Government was under
no fmal! Uneaiinefj, at this Time, on account of
the open Freedoms taken with the Queen and her
Adminiftration,and the Secret Defijnsof the Papifts,
who were conftantly plotting to overthrow both.
This Jealoufy produced a Bill ftronger than the for-
mer, which was lirft read and carried in the Houfa
of Commons, and fent up to the Lords, March the
7th, with this Title; A BUI for keeping the ^lecn's
Majefly'i Suhje{is in their due Obedience. The Bilt
was read a third Time, on the loth of the fame
Miinih, and concluded ; anl isihefirft A£i, in our
f, St/Uute-Booki, of this Sefliun, Bv it was declared,
* That
232 ThcTarliament.iry History
J
eucen EUiibeih. * That whofoever fhall dlfluade the Subjefls from
ijSi. ' iheir Obedience 10 ilieir Prince, and from the
' Religion eftabhfhed in Efgland, or fliall reconcile
' them to the Church of Rome ; alfo, thofe who
AoDthM.making ' Q^^W be fo difTuaded and reconciled, are guiliy of
M Turn plpra. ' ^'i^ Ireajon. Thofe, alib, who Ihall fay Ma&,
• are fined in iwo hundied Mjrks. and Imprifon-
* ment for a Year, or longer, 'till they have paid
' the Money, Thofe who fhall wittingly and
' willingly be prefent ai Mafs, are fined in one hun-
' dred Marks, and Imjirifonment likewife for 3
' Year. And they who tetufe 10 frequent Divine
♦ Service, in their Parifli- Churches, are fined in
* twenty Pounds a Month.'
The better to uncerftand the Reafon why the
Government enafted fuch fevere Laws, at prefent,
it will be neceffary to look a little into the Hiilory
of the Times. Amongft the many Matches that
had been piopofed to Queen Elizaieth, from difte-
reniPrincesoffarup^, there wasone, at thisTime,
which came nearer Marriage than any of the reft.
T' In the Yeari572, the (^een-Mother of France
had ptopofed her yoimgeu Son, Francis Duke
D'jfienzot, as a Husband for EUzahelh -, but
the Queen is faid then to difapprove of it, becaufe
of the Ii^eqjality of their Ages; he being then
Jcarce feventeen Years and ilie above eight and
thirty f/J. However, the Queen promifed to con-
fider of it ; and a long Confideratiou fhe took ; for
fhe led him a Dance from Year to Year, till his
elder Brot'r.er dying, he became Duke of /Injou.
In the Year 1581, this Duke was cholen Gover-
nour of the Netherlandi, by the then revolted
A Msmiee en Stutti ; and the fame Year came himlelf into Eng-
t^aa^^l^bc ''""'' '" °'^'^" '° prolecuie, with more Vigour, his
Duke of An- intended Match wiih the Queen. The Nail was
jou. now driven a great Length ; and the brisk French
Prince pjrfued the .Amour foclofcly, that fomeAti-
lhor9,e:pecially Holmgjhead, have left us Room to
think that ^ very great Familiarity was then between
tiiem. The grave Mr Cumbden tells m, That on
(I) CaabiUn Ir
I
Of ENGLAND.' 233
the 17th oi Nmembe>\y^ii Year, when the Qi'een Qy„„Eijg^
had.with great Pomfi, celebraicd her Coronation- ijBi.
Day, the Fera efmede/i Live, in the Midfl afsms'
reus DifcBurfe, carried her Jo far as to draw off a Ring
ftom her mvn Finger, and pat it ufion the Duie of
AnjouV, upon certain ComUtiQnsietwixt them two (m).
The Company took this Adion for a public Con-
tradl J but ic did not prove fo ; for the Duke having
fpent fome Months iu bringing this old Pike to his
Bait, was at laft forced to quit her j not without
fome fmart Invetlives againft the Lightnefs ef Wo-
men,ivj&Cam}ideti,zxt^ the hmnjiancysf IJlanders.
This Amour occafioned great Noife all over
Europe \ but, at Home, People were varioufly af-
fe£ted, as their own Inierefts led tliein to judge ofwhich gi»ei
the Match. The Papifls v?ere gLd to find that a6t"" Offence
Popjh Prince was, likely, once mote to be on, or|^„' ^™'^"
near, the Throne j and the Protejlams, on the
conirary, were Ihocked at fuch a Profpeit. Theie
laft threw out many fcvere Reflexions on the inten-
ded Union : Books and Pamphlets were printed a-
gainft it. Amongft' which, one gave great Offence
to the Queen, entituled, TheGalpb, wherein Eng-
land, will be fwallowed by the French Match. The
Author, Printer, and Publiflier of it, being found
out, fuffered an uncommon Punifhment, having
their Right Hands cutoff by a Cleaver, driven thro'
the Wriit by the Force of a Mallet, on a Scaffold
in fVe/iminjler (n).
Thefe Men were of a Sefl lately fprung up, cal-
led Puritans. Bui,
The Queen, to flicw th.-2t {he was no Way
inclined to favour Pspery, fuffered, ar the fame
Time, four Popiih Priefts to be arraigned and exe-
cuted as Tiailers. And thefe were the Reafons
that induced the Govi:ri\[nenC to get 'he foregoing
Laws enafled; both againft the open feditious , Li-
bels and Refleftioiis of the Puruans, and ' the
fccreC Praflices of the Papijis. That the Former '
were very warm in tlieir Remonftrances to the Par-
('in;ff«B*<Je«, 6ff. p. 4B6.
>) By vitCnc of jn AEt nafrd ia the Reign -^fPhiVp and Mary,
■ioft iheAuthonaadPabliihGis of Seditious 'Wiitugt.
234 '^he Parliamentary Histort
liamem itfelf, at this Time, appears by an Admonj'
^jg,? '«;< then addrefTfd to the Queen anJ both Houfes.'
In the Conclufioti of which, the Authors thunder
A Pious Rtmon- Out thcif Jnathimas agaiuft all thofe who oppofe tbB*"-
«nncc»E«inftic. progrefs of their intended Religious Pl^ " ""
S[ileand charitable infir.u.itions of which
curious lo be omitted. This Pious AJmmtion lelli
thc-m plainly :
* Th.it the State did not fliew itrelf upright, al-
* leJge the Parliament what it will ; ihal all honcft
' Men fhould find Lack of Equity, and allgood
* CoDlciences condemn that Court ; that /'/ Jhould
' be safier for ?todiOm and Qamoxfhi, ill the Day ef
' Judgmtnty than for futh a Parliament. That
' there is no other Thing to be looked for than-
' Ibme fpecdy Vengeance to light upon the whole
' hind, \ei ihe politic Mach.ffveii of England pro-
* vide as well as they can, tho" God do his worft.
' And, iinaily, if they of that Aflembly would not
' follow the Advice of their Jdmo'iitims, they
' would infallibly be their own Carvers in it ; the
' Church being bound to keep God's Order, and
' nothing to be called God's Order but their pie-
' lent Plat-Form (o).' But to proceed with our
' "Journah:
On the 6th of Febmafy, a Bill was brought in-
to the Houfe of Lords, to obli^eall Perlbns whacfo-
ever to come to Church, hear Divine Service, and
receive the Sacrament. But this bill was let drop
after the firft Reading.
March the zd, a Bill was fent upby theCom-
L'""mons, for granting a Supply to hfr Majelly, of a
Subfidy, two Fifteenths and Tenths. It palled the
Houfe of Lords on the 8lh ; but, it is ftrange, that
Cambden takes no Manner cf NoLice of thcfe Paxes,
nor for what Occafion they were wanted j unlefi it
was for, fecreily, (upplvit^ct xhe Hutch, the thai
Humble Stales, with Money, to fupport them in
their !atc Revolt from Spain {p).
' A BiU
(f) Cembdm ia Kima, |.. .JK5.
A
Of E N G L A N D. 135 *
A Bill palled the Houfe of Lords for fortifying the
Borders lowards SfQlla«d, which was lent down to'^"?;^;"^'
the Commons, who, on the 8ih al Minb, km up
a new Bill to the Lords, 10 ihe f^me Purpoie, and
iheh' old Bill with it. On which this remarkable
Entry is maJein their Jsurnah :
' This Day the Commons Houfe fent up a new
* Bill, Far fortifying the Borden tanards Scotland,
' and, withal, returned a former Bill, which the
* Lords, with great Deliher.iiion, had paiied, and ADifferenw |>
' fern down before, with the lame Title. Which'""*" ^^' T»
* Courfe the Lords thought to be botli derogatory ^°"''
' to theSuperiority of the Place, and contrary to the
' antieni Courle of both Houfe. And, &s they
* difliked this Diforder, fu it was iheir Pleaiure, that
' this their Mill:king fhould be entered in ihe Re-
* cords of Parliament, left fo evil an Example
' raighthereafterbe ufed asa Precedent.' . — This is
one of the iirft Inllances, we have yet met with, of
any material Difpule between the Two Houfo..
Whether they had any. Conference to fettle this Af-
fair is uncertain by the Lords's "Jiurnd; butwe^
find, that on the loib, the new Bill was read a
firft Time, by the Lords, and paffed that Houfe on
the 15th, with c;;rtain Amendments, which were
agreed lo by the Commons.
Ciufes of Appeal, between Party and Party,
came now lobe tuedat the Bar of the Houfe of
Lords, and entered in their Journal. In this SefTi-
or, there is a ]ong Memrufidurri made of a Caufe,
between the Marrjuefs of {f^inchsjier, his L.idy, '
and one Mr Ougktved ; which, at Ijft, was referred
lo a Committee nf Lords, ciiofen by the Parties
ihemfelves, for their Determination.
The Journals of the Hftufe of Commons begin Jitm PMam,
thisSeffion of Parliament, with a very long Entry, ^'^^>'^''™'
relating to the Death of their Speaker, .md the Elec- ,L b^'a'rh ofV
lion of a new one. But, as this was purely Matter Robot BelL
ofForm, wepalf it over. ''■
The ComiTions havii^g made Choice of JiibH.
Pi^idTO, Efq; h^r Majetly's Solli.iior-Gener.il, for:
Iheir Speaker, in the room of tiir Rclm Bell^ deceaf-
' ed;
2^6 The Tarliamentary Histort
^
deal ,
^BeeolfiMbeth. ed ; he was prefented, and confirmed by the Queen,
is8»- on the 20th of January, with the ufual Ceremo-
nies. But, what is very remarkable, the Lord
Chancellor, in hisAnfwer to the Speaker, when
he claimed the accuftomed Privileges of the Houfe,
gave him this Admonition : *
' Thatihe Houfe of Commons fhould not deal
' or intermeddle with any Matters touching
* Majefty's Perfon, or Eftate, or Church- Govi
* ' ' ment-'
The next Thing, of any Moment, that we find
in the Jeurnah. is a Work of Piety ; and evidently
fhews the Religious Difpofiiion of the Members in
thofe Days.
"January zift, one Mr. Paul ffentwcrth ftood
up, and made a Mution, for a public Fiift, and
daily Preaching. ' TheFaft tobeappointed upon
fome one certain D.iy, but the Preaching to bee-
very Morning before the Houfe did fit. That fo,
they beginning their Proceedings, with the Ser-
vice and Worlhip o!' God, he might ihe betlec
blefs them In all their Confultations and Acii-"
ons.'
This Motion occafioned a warm Debate,
many Speeches, we are told, were made, Pra ai
Con, about it. It is not faid what any of their A
guments were, only, that Sir Francis Knslles, Tre
furer ; Mr thsnws Cromzvell^ and Mr Alford, Tpolttf* '
againft the Motion; and Mr Cook, Mr Secretary
Wiijdn, and Mr Serjeant Flewtrdsn, for it. Mr
Nerten alfo ftiewcd Precedents, that there had been
Fafts in London, appointed only by the Council,
By which, fays the JournaSj}, he leemed to infer,
that a Parliament ought the rather to doit.
However, the Houfe being divided about this
Tilt Commons Matter, it was put to the Queftion, when one hun-
^"ihei/ 01^0 ' ''''^'^ ^"^ fifteen Voices were foi, and one hundred
Authority. againft it. .We let this pafr without any other Oh-
fervation, ihsn that this Paul IPentwerth was Brother
to Peter, who bepn the laft Seffion wilh a fjmous
Speech on the Liberty of Parliaments. And the
B 0/ E N G L A N D. 237
^Kquel will fliew that this laft Motion bred, almoft. Queen ElinUti.
^U much Dtfturbance as tlie former. For, x^it.
I^On the Relblution aforefaid, a Faft having
'^een appointed to be Itept, in ihe Templs-Chrirch,
on the 29th of this Inftant Jdnuar/t there to affem-
ble and meet iogcther, to hear Preaching, and join ^^^j^ ,.
-in Prayer, Humiliation, and Fading, We. Ontherented by ^"'
'i4th of the Tame Month, an Entry is made, which Q™^a j
B fliall give, verbatim, as follows :
* Mr. Speaker declared himfelf, for his own
Jrt, to be very forry for the Error that happened
ere in this Houfe upon Saturday laft, in refolving
0 have a publick Faft ; and flieweth her Majefty's
'at Mifliking of the Proceeding of this Houfe
rein, declaring it \o fall out in fuch Sort as he
3re did fear it would do ; and, advifing the Houfe
a SubmiiTion in that Behalf, further mov^ed them
J beftow thcirTime and Endeavour hereafter, du-
Jng theSeflion, in Matters proper and pertinent for
^ts Houfe to deal in, and lo omit all fuperfluous
j^d unnecelliiiy Motions and Arguments, with all
%e Regard and Con fideration to the Order of the
l^oufe.
' Mr. Vice-Chamberlain declaring a Meflage
fom her Majefty to this whole Houfe, by her
pi^nefs's Commandment fliewed unto them her
^eat Admiration of the Raninefs of this Houfe, in
committing fuch an apparent Contempt againft her
Majefty's exprefs Commandment, very lately be-
fore, delivered unio the whole Houfe by the Lord
Chancellor in her Highnefs's Name, as to attempt
and put in Execution, fuch an Innovation as the
fame Faft, without her Majefty's Privity and Plea-
fijre firft known; blaming firft the whole Houfe,
and then Mr, Speaker ; and declaring her Majefty's
Proteftation for the allowing of Fafting and Pray-
er, with the Ufe and Exercife thereof in her own
Perfonj but reproving the undutiful Proceeding of
this Houfe, as againft the Duty of Subjefls, did
neverthelefs, very eloquently and amply, fet forth
■Jicr Majefty's moll honourable and good Accepta-
tion
238 The Tarltamentary History
^tgwn Elizabeth, tion of the Zeal, Duty, and Fidelity, of this
'^ '• whole Houfe towards Religion, the Safety of her
Highnefs's Perfon, and the State of this Common-
wealth ; (in relpedt whereof her Majefty hath fo
long continued this Parliament without Diflblution)
and declared further, to the great Joy and Comfort
* ' of this whole Houfe, that her Majefty neverthelefe,
of her ineftimable and Princely good Love and Dif-
pofition, and of her Highnefs moft gracious Cle-
mency, conftrueth the faid Offence and Contempt
to be rafl), unadvifed, and an inconfiderate Error
of this Houfe, proceeding of Zeal, and not of
the wilful and malicious Intent of this Houfe, or
of any Member of the feme; imputing the Caufe
thereof partly to her own Lenity towards a Bro-
ther of that Man which now made this Motion ;
(Mr. Wentworth) who in the laft Seffion was by
this Houfe for juft Caufcs reprehended and com-
mitted, but by her Majefty gracioufly pardoned
and reftored again. And after many exdellent Dif-
courfes and Dilatations of her Highnefs's moft ho-
nourable and loving Care for the Advancement of
Religion and the State, wherein (he had before
fignified her Prohibition to this Houfe by the Lord
Chancellor, fhewed that her Highnefs hath already
deeply conlulted upon thofe Matters in all due and
needful Refpedts, and prepared fit and apt Courfes
to digeft them, meet and reariy to be delivered un-
to this Houfe from her Highnefs, by fuch Direc-
tion as her Majefty ihiiikcth moft convenient.
And fo perfu/idiiig tiiis Houfe to employ the Time
about the necefia; y Service of the Qiieen's Majef-
ty and of the Common- wealth, wiih due and
grave Regard to the an:icnt Orders of this Houfe,
concluded!, that he diinkeih it very meet, that this
whole Houic, o\ jomu one of this Houfe, by War-
rant of the I Joule, \\\ ihe Name c"" the faid Houfe,
do make mofl- Lumoie Submiriiou unto her Majef-
ty; acknowledging the faid Offence ano Contempt,
and in moft huij:ble and dutiful A'ife, to pray Re-
' miffion of the i^xsx^ at her Highnefs's Hands, with
full
Of ENGLAND. ijj)
full Purpoie hereafter to forhear commitiing of ihcQi
like Offence.'
' Mr, Comptroller followed him, and fpafce lo
the fame Effett, but urgcl and enforced the Fault
of the Houl'e with much more Violence.'
* Mr. Nkholas St. Lcger fpake next, and with
a ^eat deal of Difcretion and Moderation extenuat-
ed the faid Offence of the Houfe ; urging firfl, their
great Affe£tion to her M:ijefty, the Sincerity ef
iheir Intention in that Motion of the Faft; then
the Imperfeflions and Sins to which not only pri-
vate Men, but publiclc States are alfo fiibjefl, and
therefore needed to be fupported by Prayer and
Humiliation; and then he urged, the great Fault
and Remiifnefs of the Bifhops, who iuffered that
moft neceflary Duty of Faflmg and flumiliation to
grow even out of Ufe in the Church ; and laftly,
be concluded, that he trulted that both herMajef-
ty and all her Subjefls, would be ready lo exprefs
their true Repentance to God in humbling Ihem-
felve-! in Saclc-Cloth and Afhes.'
' Mr, 5/. Posle followed Mr. St. Leger, but
fpake fomewhat differing from him, aggravating
the Fault of the Houfe, and urging SuhmiHion.*
' Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer fpake next,
and admonilhed the Houfe of their Duty which
they did owe to fo good and gracious a Prince, as
her Majefty hath expreffed herfelf to be in all this
long Time of her Guvernment; and therefore
urged the Houfe to SubmilTion '
' Mr. Sei^fird, one of ihe Mailers of the Re-
quefts, urged the fame Submiflion ; but withal he
thought it very fitting, andcoutd wifli it, thatMr.
Vice- Chamberlain who had brought the Mcflage
from her Majefty of her Difpleafure, might alfo
carry the Houfe's Submiffion back again unto her
Highnefs.'
* Mr. Flnverdin fpake next, and (hewed the
■ Sincerity of his Intention in fpeaking for the Faft,
when it was firfl moved ; but now concluded, that
it was moft fitting for the Houfe W make their Sub-
miffion to her Majefty.'
« Mr.
240 The Parliamentary History
«
Qgeen Elizabeth. * Mr. Corleton ftcx>d Up and offered to have fpo-
»58'« ken, but was interrupted by Mr. Speaker and the
Houfe.'
' Then Mr. Speaker afked the Queftion, Whe-
ther Mr, Vice- Chamberlain (hould carry the Sub-
miffion of the Houre lo her Majefty, and it was
They make a agreed to by the Confent of the whole Houfe/
&bouffiontoher * Mr, Qarletcn offered again to fpeak, faying
^^ ' with fome Repetition, that what he had /to move
was for the Liberty of the Houfe; but the Speaker
notwithftanding, and the Houfe (out of a tender
Care as it feemeth to give no further Diftafte to
her Majefty) did ftay him.'
* Mr. Vice- Chamberlain brought Anfwer from
her Majefty of her moft gracious Acceptation of
the Submiffion, and of her Majefty*s Admonition
and Confidence of their difcreet Proceeding; with
one fpecial Note, that they do not mifreport the
Caiife of her Mifliking, which was not, for that
they defired Fafting and Prayer, but for the Man-
ner in prefuming to indift a Form of publick Faft
without Order and without her Privity, which
was to. intrude upon her Authority Ecclefiaftical.'
* Sir Walter Mildmay fpake next, and faid,
Mr. Speaker,
Sir Walter Mild- * 'THHE principal Caufe of our AfTembly here,
may's Motion * J^ being to cohfult of Matters that do con-
fer ffcuringthe c ^em the Realm, I have thought good with your
»g!anfUheP^e * Patience, to remember you of Juch Things, as
and his Adhe- * for the Weight and Neceflity of them I take to
«"^* « be worthy of your Confiderations. Wherein
* T mean to note unto you what I have conceiv-
* ed, firft, of the prefent State we be in; next, of
* the Dangers we may juftly be in doubt of ; and
* laftly, what Provifion ought to be made in Time
* to prevent or refift them. Thefe (hewed, as
* briefly as the Matters will fuffer, I leave them to
' your Juelgments to proceed further as you (hall
* find it expedient.
* That our moft gracious Queen did at her firft
! Entry loofen us from the Yoke of Rome^ and
• did
I
0/" E N G L A N D. 141
did reftore unto Ihis Realm the raoft pure and QuemEiizsbetli,
holy Religion of the Gofpel, which for a Time '^ ''
was over- (h ado wed with Popery, is Icnown of
all the World, and felt of us to our Angular
Comforts. But from hence, as from the Root,
hath fprung [hat imjilacable Malice of the Pspe,
and his Confederates againft her, whereby they
have, and do feek, not only lo trouble, but if
they couM, lo bring the Realm again into
Thraldom ; the raiher for that they hold this as
a firm and fettled Opinion, that England is the
only fettled Monarchy that moft doth maintain
and countenance Religion, being the Chief Sanc-
tuary for the afflicted Members of the Church
that fiy thither from the Tyranny of Rome, as
Men being in Danger of Shipwrack, do from a
raging and tempeltuous Sea, to a calm and quiet
Haven. This being fo. What hath not ihcPape
effiyed to annoy the Queen and her State, there-
by, as he thinketh, lo remove this great Obftaclc
that ftandeth between him and the over-flowing
of the World again with Popery? For the Proof
whereof ihefe may (uffice.
' The Northern Rebellion ftiired up by the
Pefie, and the Quarrel for Popery.
* The Maintenance fithence of thole Rebels
and other Fugitives.
* The publiOiing of a moll impudent, blafphe-
i moUs and malicious Bull jgainft our moft Right-
i* ful Queen.
' The Invafion into Ireland by James FUz-
■JiSirrket with the Aflillance of fome Englifh
» Rebels.
* The Railing of a dangeroua Rebellion in he-
* land by the Earl of Defmond and others, in-
* tending theieby to make a general Revolt of all
' the whole Realm.
* The late Invafion of Strangers into Ireland,
* and their fortifying it.
* The Pepi turned ihtis the Venom of his Cur-
* fes and (he Pens of his malicious Parafites into
•■Men of War and Weapons, to win that by
t Vot. IV. Q. • Force,
242 7he 'Parliamentary HisToar
Queen Eiiiabcth, « Forcc, wh'ich othcrwife he could not do. And
*^ '■ ' though all thefe are faid to be done by the Pepe,
* and in his Name, yet who feeih not that they
* be maintained under-hand by ibme Princes his
' Confederates.' And if any Man be in doubt of
' that, let him bur note from whence the laft In-
' valior. mio'Iretand came, of what Country the
' Ships, and of what Nation [he moll Part of the
' Soldiers were, and by Dire£iion of whofe Mini-
' Hers they received their Viflual and Furniture.
' For the Pepe of himfelf at this prefent, is far
' unable to make War upon any Prince of that
' Eftaie which her Majefty is of, having loft, as
* you know, many Years, by the Preaching of the
' Gofpcl, thofe infiniie Revenues which he was
' wont 10 have out of Engldad, Scotland, Germa-
* ny, Switzerland, Denmark, and others; and now
' out of France aijd the Lsiv-Csuntries; fo as we
' are to think that his Name only is ufed, and all,
* or the moft Part of the Charge, born by others.
' The Queen neverihelefs by the Almighty
* Power of God flandeth fait, ni.iugre the Pope
* and all his Friends; having hitherto reliiled all
' Attempts againit her, to her great Honour, and
' their great Shame. As,
' The Rebellion in ihe North lupprelled with-
' out Effufion of Blood, wherein her Majefty may
' fay as Cafar did, Veni, vidi, vici j fo expedite
' and fo honourable was the Viflory that God did
* give her, by the Diligence and Valour of ihofe
' noble Men that had Ihe Concluding thereof.
' The Enterprize of Jumes Fuz-Mofice defealt
* ed, and himfelf lliin.
' The J/ a /ians pulled out by the Ears at Smir-
' vjici in Inland, and cut in Pieces by the notable
' Service of a noble Captain and vahant Soldiers.
' Neither thefe nor any other Threatnings or
' Fears of Danger hath, or doth mafce her to ftag-
' ger or relent in the Caufe of Religion ; but hke
* a conftani Chriftian Princefs, fhe ftilj holdclh feft
* the Profeffion of the Gofpel, that hath fo long
' upliolden her, and made us to live in Peace
i
0/ E N G L A N D. 243
■ twenty two Years and
; under her moftn
I
gracious Government, Tree from thofe Troubles "
' that our Ncighbouis have felt; fo as ihis now
feemedi lo be our prsfent State, a blefled, peace-
■ able, nnJ happy Time, for the which we are
■ moft bound to God, and to pray unto him for
the Continuance thereof.
* But yel notwithftanding, feeing our Enemies
' fleep not, it behoveth us not to be carelefs, as
' though all were psft ; but rather to think, that
■ there is but a Piece of the Storm over, and that
■ Ilie greater Pnrt of the Tempeil remaineth be-
■ hind, and is like to fall upon us by the Malice
' of the Pope, the moll Capital Enemy of the
■ Queen and this State, the Determinations of the
■ Council of Trent, and [he Combination of the
■ Pope with other Monarchies and Princes devoted
■ unto -Rum;; aliiiringDurfelve?^ thar if their Pow-
■ ers be anfwerable to iheir Wills, this Realm fhall
' find at their Hands all I he Miferies and Extremities
■ that ihey can bring upon it. And though by ihe
' late good Succefs which God hath given in Iie-
■ laridy thefe lewd and malicious Enterprizes feein
' for a Time to be as it were at a Stand ; yet let
■ u! be afTured, that neither their Attempts upon
' Ireland, neither the Mifchiefs intended againft
' England will ceafe thus ; hut if they find us ne-
' gligent, they will be ready with greater Forces
' than have been yei feen. The certain Determi-
' nation which the Pope and his combined Friends
■ have to root out the Religion of the Gofpel in
■ all Places, and to begin here as their greateft Im-
■ pediment, is Caufe fufficient to make usthe more
' vigilant, and to have a wary Eye lo their Doings
' and Proceedings, how fmooihly foL-ver they fpeak
' ordiflemble their Friendlhips tor the Time: For
' let us think furely, that ihey have joined Hands
' together againft us ; and if they cati, tbey will
' procure the Sparks of the Flames that have beeil
' fo terrible in oihet Countries, to fly over into
' England^ and to kindle as great a Fire here. And
' aa the Pope by cpen Hoftility, as you fee, hath
Q_2 ' fliewed
a
<^een Elizabeth.
X581.
44 The Parliamentary HiSTOM
fhewed himfelf againft her Majcfty 5 fothcb^
ter to anfwer in Time the Purpofes that he W"
fet dowa in the mean Seafon till they comC'l^
Ripenefs, he hath and doth by fecret ?t$SaH
ces within this Realm leave nothing uni
emboldening many undutiful Subjedts to
faft in their Difobedience to her Majefty and]
Laws. For albeit the pure Religion of the ^
pel hath had a free Courfe, and hath been
preached now many Years within this Realml
the Proteftion of her Majefty*s moftC!
Government; yet fuch have been the Pi
of the Pope and his fecret Minifters, as the (
nate and (tiff necked Pafnji is fo far from
reformed, as he hath gotten Stomach to go
ward, and to ihew his Difobedience not onlfi
arrogant Words, but alfo in contem]
Deeds.
*' To confirm them herein, and to increaTe
Number, you fee how the Pop^ hath and
comfort their hollow Hearts with Abfolut
Difpenfuions, Reconciliations, and fuch
Things of Rome. You fee how lately he
fent hither a Sort of Hypocrites, naming
felyes Je/uiiesy a Rabble of vagrant Friers
iprung up, and running through the World
trouble the Church of God; whofe prii
Errand is by creeping into the Houfes of Menj
Behaviour and Reputation, not only to c<
the Realm with falfe Dodtrine, but alfoi
that Pretence, to ftir up Sedition, to theP<
her Majefty and her good Subjedls.
' Plow tbefe Pradices of the Pope have wrc
in the diiobedient Subjects of this Land, 18
evident and kmenrabic to confider. For-
Impreflion hath the Eftimaiion of the P6p^$,
thority made in them, as not only thoic wJ
from the Beginning have refufed to obejTf ,
many, yea, very many of ihofe which A]
Years together did yield and conform themf
in their open Adtions, fithence the Dccn
that unholy Council gf Trent, and fiihenci
0/ E N G L A N D. 245 <
* Publifliing and Denouncing of that blafphemous Qu«nElu»l»th.-
* Bui! agamft- her Majefty, and fiihence thofe le- 'S*'"
' cret Ablblutions and Reconciliarions, and ihe
' fwarming Jiilher of a Number of Popift} Prieits
'-andMonkini7if/^««, have and dounerly refufe
' to be of .our Church, or to refort unio our
* Preaching and Prayers, The Sequel whereof
* mud needs prove dangerous to the whole Siate of
' Ihe Common-wealih,
' By this you fee what Caufe we have juftly to
' doubt great Mifchief threatned to this Realm;
' and therewith you may ealily fee alio how for
1* the preventing and withllanJing of the fame, it
' behoveth her Majefty not only to provide in
* Time fufficieni Laws for the continuing of this
* [waceable Government; but alfo to be ready with
' Forces to reprefs all Attempts that may he enler-
* prized either by Enemies abroad, or by evil Sub-
* jefls at Home.'
' What Difference there is between the Pop'i
' perfecuiing Church, and this mild Church of the
* Gofpel, haih been feen in all Ages, and efpecial-
' ly in the late Government compared with the
* merciful Time of her Majefty's Reign; the
' Continuance of which Clemency is alio to be
» wifhed, fo far as may Hand with God's Honour
* and the Safety of the Realm: But when by
* long Proof we find, that ihia favourable and
.* gentle Manner of dealing with the Difobeyers
* and Coniemnersof Religion, to vim them by fair ,
' Means if it were poflible, hath done no good, but
* hath bred in them a more arrogant and contemp-
' tiioua Spirit, fo as they have not only prefumed
' to difobey the Laws and Orders of ific Realm,
* but alfo to accept from Rum fccret Abfolutions,
' Reconciliations, and fuch llkej and that by the
* Hands of lewd Runagates, Priefts and Jefuitei,
'■ harbouring and entertaining them even in ihctr
' Houfes; thereby (hewing an Obedience to the
* Pi^i, by their Direiilion slfo nourifhing and Irnin-
' ing up their Ciuluren and Kinsfolks, not only at
' Home, but alfo Abroad in the Seminaries of
Q. 3 • Pep^'j i
1^6 TheTarliiimcutary History
Popery ; now I fay it is Time for us to look
more narrowly and ftriftly to iliem, left as they
be cotiupt, ib they prove dangerous Members
to many born within theEn[raiis of o'jr Com-
mon-Wealth.
' And feeing that the Lenity of ihe Time and
the Mildnefs of the Laws heretofore made, are
no fmall Caufe of their arrogant Difobediencc,
it is uecellary that we make a Provifion of Laws
more Arid and more fevere; toconilrain them
to yield their open Obedience, at the leaft, to
her Majefty in Caufes of Religion, and not to
live as they lift, to ihc perilous Example of
others, and to the Encouraging of their own
evil affefted Minds : But if they will needs fub-
mit themlelves to the Benediftion of the Pspe^
they may feel how liitie his Curfes can hurt us,
and how little his Bleflings can lave them from
thni Puniftment which we are able to lay upon
them ; letting them alfo find, how dangerous it
fliall be for them to deal with the Pcpg, or any
thing of his, or with thofe Rsviijh Priefts and
Jefuilei; and therewith alfo how perilious it
fhall he for ihofe feditious Runagates to enter
into the Land, to draw away from her Majefly
that Obedience which by the Laws of God and
Man are due unio her,
' This then is one of the Provifions which wc
ought to take care of in this Council, whereby
we may both enjoy ftill that happy Peace we
live in, and the i'ff;>« take the lefs Boldnefs to
trouble ua, by any Favour he {hall find here.
' The next is Provifion of Forces lufficient to
anfv/er any Violence that may be offered either
here or abrcid ; for ihe which you know it is
rtquiiite thi^t her Majerty do make Preparation
both by Sea and by Land.
' God ha^h placed this Kingdom in an Ifland
environed with rhe Sea as with a natural and
flrong Wail, whereby we are not fubjeit lo thofd
fudden Iiivafions which otljcr Frontier Countries
One of our greaieft Defences flanding by
Sea.
1
1
I
r
I
I
©/■ENGLAND. 247
' Sea, the Number of good Ships h of ihe moftQ^
' Importance for us. What the Queen'sNavy is,
' how many notable Ships, and how far behind is
' the Navy of any other Prince, is known to all
' Men ; and therewiih aifo it may be eafily confi-
* dered how great Chaiges be incident to the
* fame.
' Neceflary alfo it is, that her Majefty have For-
' ces by Land fufficient to chaftife the Rebels in
* belaud, and to reprefs any foreign Attempts ei-
* ther there or here. For which Services either
* by Land or by Sea, her Majefty needeih not as
' other Princes are fain to do, to entertain necef-
* fa ry Soldiers of Foreign Countries hardly gotten,
* coftJy and dargcrouily kept, and in the end,
* little or no Service done them ; but may bring
* fufficient Forces of her own nsniral Subjefls,
* ready and eafy to be levied, ihat carry with
' them willing, valiant, and faithful Minds, fuch
* as few Nations may eafily compare with. But
* thefe Forces with their Furniture and Munition,
* can neither be prepared nor maintained to have
•Continuance, without Provifion of Treafurefuf-
' ficieni [o bear the Charge, being as you know
' termed of old, Nervus Belli.
' This belongeih to us to confider, and that in
* Time ihere be not Lack of the Sinews that muft
* hold together the Strength of our Body. And
' hecaufe through the Malice of our Enemies, het
' Majefty is driven to keep greatForces in Irelnnil,
* for the better SupprelTmg of that Rebellion to
' her exceeding Charge; and for that alfo it is un-
' certain, how iudden and how great other At-
* tempts may be ; therefore in Reafon, our Supply
* of that Maintenance ought to be the more, efpe-
* cially the Wars being at ihlsDay focoftlyasevc^
* ry Man in his private Expence may eafily judge.
' But left that pcradventure fome may judge, that
* the Contribution granted by us pow five Years
' paft, both frankly ana dutifully, might luffico
* for many Years wiiliout any new; I dare aft'ure
* you for the Acqaaimance I have (though I bc-
<j 4 ' ^-
i48 The Parliamentary History
!>■• unworthy) with thofe her Majefty's Affairs, that
' the fame hath not been fufficient to aiifwer the
* extraordinary Charges happen'd fines then, efpe-
' cially thofe of /'i'.'aW, by the one Half ; buther
* Majefty hath fupplied the reft out of her own
' Revenues, fpating from hcrfflf to lerve the Ne-
* ceflity of the Realm, and (hunning thereby
* Loans upon Intereft, as a moft peftilenc Canter
* that is able lo devour even the States of Princes.'
* Which being fo, as it is moll true, we are not
* to think upon the Charge that is paft, but the
* Good we have received by it, being by that Pro-
' vifion well and honourably defended againft the
' Malice of our Enemies. And therefore conli-
* dering the great Benefit we have received by the
' laft Payment, being eafily taxed and eafily born,
' whereby we have kepi all the reft in Peagc ; let
' us as provident Counfellors of this Srate, prepare
* again in Time ihat which may be able to wiih-
' Hand the Mifchiefs intended againft us. To do
* this willingly and liberally, our Duty to oar'
^ Queen and Country, and our Safeties move us.
' The Lciveand Duty that we owe to our moft
' gracious Queen, by whofe Miniliry God hath
* done fo great Things for us, even fuch as be
* wonderful in the Eyes of the World, ought to
* make ua more careful for her Prefervation and
* Security than for our own. A Ptincefs known
* by long Experience to be a principal Paitonof
' the Gofpel, virtuous, wife, faithlul, juft, un-
' fpotted in Word and Deed, merciful, temperate,
' a Maintainer of Peace and Juftice amongft her
' People without refpeft to Perfons; a Queen be-
* fides of this noble Realm, our Native Country,
' renowned of the Woild, which our Enemres
' daily gape to over run, if by Force or Sleight
* they could do it: For luch a Queen and fuch a
' Country, and for ibe Defence of the Honour
' and Safety of them both, nothing ought to be
' dear uiuo us, that with moll willing Hearts we
* jhould not fpend and adventure freely,
1
\
0/ E N G I, A N D.
249
I
' The fame Love and Duty [hat we owe to our Qa<™E'">
* gracious Sovereign, and to this our Native Coun- *^ ^'
* try, ought to make us all think upon the Realm
* of Ireland as upon a principal Member of this
' Crown, having continued fo this four Hundred
* Years or more. To lofe that Land, or any
* Part thereof, which the Enemies feefc, would
* not only bring with it Diftionour, but alfo prove
' a Thing moll dangerous to England; confidering
» the Neafnefs of that Realm to this, and the
' Goodnefsof fo many notable Havens as be there.
* Again, to reform that Nation by planting therein
* Religion and Juftice,. which the Enemies labour
' to interrupt, is moll godly and necellary; the
* Neglefling whereof hath, and will continue that
' People in all Iireligion and Diforder, to ihe great
' Offence of God, and to the infinite Charge of
* this Realm.
* Finally, let us be mindful alfo of our Safety,
* thereby to avoid fo great Dangers, not feen afar
* off, but imminent over our Heads.
* The Quictnefs that we have by the peaceable
* Government of her Majefty, doih make us to
* enjoy all that is ours in more Freedom than any
* Nation under the Sun at this Day : Bui let not
' that breed in us a carelefs Security, as though this
* clear Sun-light could never be darkened ; but let
* us think certainly that the Pops and his Favour-
* ers do both envy our Felicity, and leave no Prac-
* tice unfo.ighi to ovenhrow the fame. And if
* any Man be fo dull (as I truft there be none here)
' that he cannot conceive the Bledednefsof thisour
* golden Peace, ex^-ept he felt the Lack of it; let
* him but end his Eyes over the Seas, into our
* Neighbour's Countries, and there behold what
* Trouhle the Pspe and his Minlfters have ftirred
* againft uch as profefs the lame Religion of yejus
* Chrift B9 we do : There he may find Depopu-
* latious an ! Dev?,(btions of whole Provinces and
* Countries; Over-throwing, Spoiling, andSacking
* of Cities and Towns; Impriibniog, Ranfoming,
* and Murtheringof all Kind of People; befides
' other
f^aeen EUzabethi
1581.
Cpminitte^s ap-
pointeJ accor-
ajo Tffe Parliamentary Histokt.
other infinite Calamities which the Infolency of
War dotli ufually bring with it.
* From thefe God in his Mercy hath delivcrd
us ; but this neverthelefs is the State and Condir
tion that our Enemies would fee us in, if If
any Device they could bring it topafs; and to
that End, be then affured, they will fpare oil
Cofl-, nor leave any Meaqs uneflayed.
* Therefore to conclude. Seeing the Malice of
the Pope and hb Confederates are fo notorioBi
unto us, and feeing the Dangers be fo great, ft
evident, and fo imminent i and feeing that Pifr
parations to withftand them cannot be made
without Support of the Realm ; and feeing tM
our Duties to God, our Queen and Counoyi
and the Neceffity that hangeth upon our cm
Safe-guards, be Reafons fufficient to perfuadc m\
let us think upon tbefe Matters as the Weight of
them dcferveih ; and fo provide in Time bothl^
Laws ro reftrain and corrcft the evil affedtedSub*
jefts, and by Provifion of that which (hall h
requifite for the Maintenance of Forces, asoQl
Enemies finding our Minds fo willing, and OH
Hands fo ready to keep our Country in Otish
and to furnifh her Majefty with all that fliall be
necelTary, may either be difcouraged to atteopl
any thing againft us, or if they do, they taif
find fuch Reiiltance, as fhall bring ConfufiOD V
thcmfelves, Honour to our pioft gracious Qjice%
and Safety to us al!.'
' Mr. Norton purfued the fame Admonitif
and required the Houfe to proceed to a Manner j
executing it ; which in his Opinion was to a|
all the Privy-Council of this Houfe, and
other fit Perfoas to confuh of Bills conv(
be framed according to the faid Motion to
fentcd to the Houfe ; which Motion ajfo
allowed, and Committees appointed to meetil
Exchequer-Chamber that Afternoon at Til
tlie Clock, viz All the Privy-Council c
JJoufc, Sir Thomas Heneage^ Trcafura[ ^
I
I
I
I
0/ E N G L A N D. iji
Chamber, ihe Matters of Requefts, Sir Gierge q^^
Cary, Knight-Marfhal, Mr. Fmefcus, Mafter of
the Wardrobe, Mr, Recorder of London^ Mr.
Serjeant i'i/Mi^, Mr. Serjeant Fleetwood, Sit James
Harrington, Sir William More, Sir Ihsmas Scstt,
Sir yohn Bnciett, Sir Henry Raddyffe, Mr. Yelvir-
ion. Sir Henry Gates, Mr. Hulton, Sir Philip
Sidney, Sir Henry Leigh, Mr. IVaelley, Sir Thomas
Shirley, Sir if^Bry Knivell, Mr. Norton, Mr, ///-
litfr/fj', Sir Rowland Hayward, Mr. Matthrjjs,
Sir iiiJifrf IVitigfield, Sir r/wmuj PiJrijr, Sir TAo-
fflcj Perrot, Mr. Js-^n Pr/Vf, Mr. Ayhner, Sir
G^ijr^j ^^fic, Mr. Lieutenant of the Tinver, Sir
Tiffwijr C«;7/, Sir vfr/Aar fi^?, Mr. Cnwif,
Mr. Robert Wroth, Mr. Edward Lewienor, Mr.
Jhempfin, Mr. Layton, Mr. Edward Stanhope,
Mr. C*flr/^i Merrifin, Mr. G/7i^rr 7d/Aa(, Mr.
Edward Cary, Mr. P^rtr ffentworth, Mr, Stfs^'^t
Sir iioiirt Stapkton, Sir Nicholas St. Leger, Sir
James Msrvin, Sir William Winter, Sir Edward
Upton, Mr. jP^j^j^w Philipps, Mr. Edgecmbe, Sir
fliwrj' Woodhaufe, Mr. Peyton, and Mr. Digby.'
There were very few Debates on any confiderabic
Points this Seflion ; the Dill for a Supply being
pafs'd without any. There aiealfo many Orders
aod Regulations relating to Elcflioiis, tifc. but
none of them are material enough forour Purpofe.
The Houfe alfo thought fit to petition the Queen,
on the old. Score of making fome farther Reforma-
tion in Religion. But this was touched fo ten-
derly, in the Petition, ihac (he thought fit to
give them a favourable Anfwer to it : On which
the Houfe came to a Refoluiion to take no more
Notice of this Affair, bur to leave it to the Speaker,
in his Speech at the End of the Seffion, to recom-
mend this Reformation to her Majefty, as he thought
proper.
On the rSih Day of March, the Queen came
to the Houfe of Lords, in the Afternoon, when
Ihe Speaker of the Commons, ^c. being admitted,
on the prefeniiiig of the Bills to het Majefty, he
Jpolfe 10 tills Efieit :
*Tiat
aj^ The Parliamentary History
^'""isSi!^^^* * '^^^^ ^^^ ^*^'^f ^^^ principal Purpofe in n»*
king of Laws did confift of three principal Paili^
The S caker's ^^ ^^^^ '^^^ ^^'^ ^^*^ ^^ ^^"® ^^^ finccrc ScTViCe
Speech^to Se and Glory of God ; Secondly, for- the Suidy
i^ccn on pre- and Prefcrvatlon of her Majefty's moft Royal Per-
^"^^J^^°;^ fon ; and Thirdly, for the Good, Quiet, and Bei»-
*" fit of the Common- Wealth of this her Highncft
Realm and Subjedts of the fame ; afcribing theSs-
cere and plentiful Preaching of God's Word, wi4
the due and right Ufe of Prayer and Adminiftratkl
of the Sacraments, and the true Exercife and D*
cipline in the Churches, to be the ordinary Mori
both of the Advancement of God's Glory, U
Majefty's Safety, and of her Subjedls Profpcrlty
the Dew of the Word watering and bringing for^
in all good Chriftian Confciences, the true Kdov*
ledge and Fear of God, faithful Love and ducO-
bedience unto her Majefty, and perfeft Unity il
the general Society of this Common-Wcal4
And the Exercife of the Sword of Difcipline t
cut off, reprefs and correft all Excefles and Enoi
tending to the Impeachment of all good Eftfl
aforefaid. Declaring further unto her Highnei
that her Majefty's Nobles and Commons in tM
prefent Parliament aflembled, had very careftiDf
gravely, and dutifully travelled in this prefent Sdf
fion, to devife and ordain good and wholfom
Laws for thofe Ends and Purpofes, to be eftablifll'
ed and allowed by her Highnefs; and alfo, fonn
other good and necefl'iry Laws, as well for dk
whole State of the Common-Wealth in genenl
as for the private Benefit and neceflary Relief il
fundry her Majefty's particular good SubjeQs: And
fo recommending all the fame unto herHigbneft
and efpecially two of them, whereof one dolhchw
ly and principally tend to the Bridling and Rcfirt|J
ing of her R^ajefty's difobedient and obftinalcT "
jedts, the utter Adverfarics of true Religion,
the moft pernicious and dang<erous Enemies of
Highnefs's moft Royal Per fon. Stale and Goi
ment; the fecond, for the due Maintenance
Prefervation of her Majefty's Honour, good Fa
I
0/ E N G L A N D. jj3
and Dignity; humbly befought her Majefty to giveQ^5a,Ei;„be^ '
Life unto all the faid Laws by her Royal Aflent. is?" '
And then yielding uato her Highneis moft humble
Thanks, in the Name of the whole Houfe, for her
Majefty's moft gracious Acceptation of their moft
humble Petition unto her Highneis for Reformation
of fome Abufes yet remaining in the Church j and
moft humbly renewing the fpeedy Confideration
thereof unto her Majefty's good Remembrance at
her good Will and Pleafure, did further moft hum-
bly befcerh her Highncfs, in the Name and Behalf
of the whole State of the Commons of her Realm,
that her Majefty would (at their moft humble Suit,
the rather) have a vigilant and provident Care of
the Safety of her moft Royal Perfon, againft the
malicious Attempts of fome mighty foieign Enemies
Abroad, and the traiierous Praftices of moft un-
natural difobedient Subjects both Abroad and at
Home, envying ihe blefled and moft happy and
quiet Government of this Realm under het High-
nefsi upon the Thre;id of whole Life only, next
under God, dependeth the Lif^ and whole State
and Stay of every her good and dutiful Subjefts.'
' And withal, that it might pleafe her Highnefs
to have fuch good Care and Regard generally for
the Maintenance of Mariners, and of Nariga-
tion, the very Strength and Walls of her Ma-
jefty's Realms and Dominions, as may feem moft
convenient unto her Highnefs'a moft godly Wif-
dom from Time to Time. And fo declaring,
that her Majefty's Nobles and Commons, having
had Confideration of her Highnefs's great Charges
many Ways for Defence of her Realms and Peo-
ple agninft foreign Enemies, and rebellious Sufa-
jcfts, both already employed, and hereafter to be
employed, have granted unto her Highnefs one
Subftdy, and two Fifteenths and Ttnthi, which
they befought her Highnefs to accept in good Part
according to their humble Duties ; and gave her
Majefty moft humble Thanks for her Highnefs's,
moft gracious, general and free Pardon.'
* Which
aj4 77^^ 'Farliamentary HisToar
Qbeen Eli«beth. ' Which done, the Lord Chancellor by her
1581. Majefty'i Commandment, anfwering very excel-
lently and briefly the Parts of Mr. Speaker's Ora-
tion, did amongft other Things deliver her Ma-
TheLorfChin-jefty's moft heany Tharks unto both Houfes, for
tellor-i Anfwcr. their great and good Care for the Safety of her
Highncfs's Perlbn, and alfo of her Honour, good
Fame and Dignity; not yet comprehending with-
in thole general Thanks, fuch Members of the
Houfe of Commons as have this Seffion dealt
more raflily in fome Things than was fit for
them to do; and giving ihem withal like hearty
Thanks for the faid Contribution of a Subfidy and
two Fifieenths and Tenths, in that it was granted
as wilhngly and frankly, and alfo as largely and
amply, and to be anfwered as fpeedily, as any other
like ever hath been ; taking the fame in as good
Part as if it had been to her own private Ufe;
where in very deed it is to be employed to the ge-
neral Service and Benefit of the whole Realm.'
* Then giving her Royal Aflent to fifteen public
and fifteen private Blls, [among which was one
for theReltiiuiion in Blood of Philip, Earl of /frun-
dele, eldeft Son to the late Duke of Norfolk) the
Lord Chancellor prorogued the Parliament to thft
14th of April.'
We have now another Chain of Adj'ournmenl ,,
from Time to 'I'ime, of the fame Parliament, fot'
three Years more. During this, except the Affaii'
of the ftill imprifon'd Queen of ScQti which will
be treated of in the Sequel, there is nothing to our
Purpofe. The Prorogations fucceeded one another
in this Order: From
A, R. 23, /ipr.24ih(o A. R. Jan. 18/A.
May ■i'jth. Feb. nth.
June i2lL Mar. nth.
June i2th. Apr. a6f*.
July 2f:i. May 2btb.
Aug. 22d. Oilr. toti}.
Oiir. ^th. 25, Nsv. 2pti
a4, N6V. 24//J. Jan. 24.
Dec. $lh. Apr. 19/*.
Ob
y
ttie
thftj
fnf ■
%
I
Of E N G L A N D. iss
On which laft menlionedDay, //^nV 19th, 158}, Q
tlie Parliament being met, the Lord Chancellor de-
livered a Commidion from the Queen, direfled
to himlelf, and many of the Peers, to the Clerk
of Parliament to be read. By which Commiffion,
which is very long, Including the Dates of all
the Prorogations from the firft Seflion of this Par-
liament, they were' authorized to dtilblve it. Ac- "^
cordingly, this Parliament was dilTolved, after it"/
had fubfifted, in a very unufual Maanei, very near ^
eleven Years. "*
The unhappy Queen of Sals had now been a
Prifonet in England fifteen Years, under the Cuf-
tody of the Earl of Sbrewsbury, at Shfjiild- Mon-
itor, in Ybrkpire; but was, about thisTime, taken
from thence and put under the Cuftody of Sir
Amias Pavjkt and Sir Dreue Drury, &t Fotheringhay
Cafili in Northampionjhire. Mary had oftentimes
rcprefented the Hiirdfliip of this Imprifonment to
her Kinfwoman Elizabfth, but never more pathe-
tically, than in a long Letter (he wrote to her,
dated at Sheffield, Nov. 8. 15H2. Cambdeti hath
given us an Abftiadt of this Letter from the Ori-
ginal French, (j) in which the poor Prifoner hath
rcprefented her miferable Ciife, in Words that would
move a Heart of Adamant. Our Author fays,
that Etizabelh was fenfibly touched with this Let-
ter i and that (he and her Council had agreed on
fome Terms, on which Mary, might not only be
releafed, but reftored to her Kingdom, and have a
Share in the Government with her Son. Oni;
Article of which was, that Mary fhould forbear
lo claim any Right to the EngH/h Crown, during
Queen Elizabeth's Life ; and afterwards, be con-
tent to refer ihe Tiile of Succcflion to the Judg-
ment of an Eriglijb Parliament. But all this came
to nothing; the unhappy Politics of both King-
doms, at that Time, of which 'PtetejlaiUifm was
the Balis, made it abfoluttly necellary that this
Foptfl) Queen fhould not only be kept a Prifoner,
but even facrificed for its Security.
As
aj6 The Tarliatnentary Histokt.
qoMBElMabttb, As lo foieigii Aftalrs, ihe growing Greatnefs of
isSj. Spmri was now to be dreaded ; the Pope, the Cardi-
nah, and all the Italian Princes, were in that Inle-
reft. The Houfe of Auflria, alfo, was linked to
Hi add to ihis, the late Acquiliilon of Porlugal^
with the immeni'e Riches of Mexico and Pentf
ui:i.AcPhilip far more powerful and formidaiile than
ever his Father Charki V. was. And, fince now
that William Prince of Orange and Framis Duke
of J?!Jou were both dead, if he fliould once re-
duce the Nelherlaadi under his Power, all the
Princes in Chrijlemlom muft lubmit to Spain-, and
to an univerfal Monarchy, (r)
, Whilft Things were in this Situation Abroad,
Queen Elizabeth thought proper to call a new Par-
liament at Home, the Exigences of the Times
requiring it. Writs were fent out for one to meet
at WeJimlnJleT, on the 23d Uay of NnvembeTt in
the 27th Year of this Reign, {s)
The Jsurnals of the Lords are now a little more
> "°i=ac?' ^'' P3t'ii^i*l3f in the Recital of their daily Proceedings,
Ac Weiiminftcr, Chan of late Years. We are told that, on the
Meeiing, the Lord Cliancellor, Brornley, opened
the Caufe of the Summons, by the Queen's Com-
mand, being feated 011 the Throne, in a fhort, but
accurate Speech for that Purpofe- (') The Re-
ceivers and Tryers of Peti-.lons, according to an-
lient Cuftom, facing appointed, in French, ihenext
Day the Commons prefenied Jehn Puckering Efq;
John PuckerinB, Serjeaul at Law, to the Queen, for their Speaker,
who, with the nfui! Ceremonies, was admiticd^^_
No particular Speeches being entered, in eithi
Journal, at the Meeting of this Parliament.
On the 21II of Dectmber, [he Queen by heQ|
Letters Paseiits, adjourned die Parliament lo tbt
(r) About thk Tims itif tlti;=n publlHied a Declnatiorl of d
CivSt= minTQE het to pie Aid, tur ths Dstincc of [he People >ffic3
icd vA uppt^ed in the Lnu ttialria. Sa Cuubden in J^feltJieS^
Pogr 6;^
(1} Uagdsle hja omitted this SuwrnonJi
%.l
6/ E N (i L A N D. tisf
'February following, on account of Chrj^- Queen Elmbeti.
'0 Days before the faid Adjournment hap*^
a remarkable Bill was fent up by the
ions, entitled, A BUI againft Jesuits^
ry Priefts, and other fuch difibedient Perfous.
5 firft Day of their Meeting, after the Ad-
letit, this Bill was reafTumed ; and on the iirft *
g in the Houfe of Lords, was committed to
mittee of four Bifliops and nine Temporal
We hear no more of this Bill till March
*, when a Conference was defired by th6
Houfe with fotne of the Lords about it.
; fame Day another was fent up with this
An Jf£f fbr the Security of her Majejfy'i
\eyal Per/on^ and continuing the Realm in
ch 15/*, the Jefiiitfs Bill paffed the ttoufe of
vith Ibme Amendments, agreed to by hothj^"yjfj^s<!lS^
, and afterwards became a Sutute («). By f^pricib, &c; "
enafted, ' That they, and all other Popijh
s, Ihould depart the Realm within forty
That ihole who (hould afterwards returri
the Kingdom, ftiould be guilty of High^
ifi. That he, who fhall wittingly and
gly harbour, relieve, and maintain them,
d be guilty of Rlony ; That thofe EngHjB
(vere brought tip in Seminaries Abroad, if
returned within fix Months after Notice
, and fubmitted not themfelves to the
tij before a Bifliop or two Juftices, they
1 be guilty of High-lrea/bn. And if any^
bmitttng themfelves, fhould within teil
: approach the Queen's Court, or come
1 ten Miles thereof, their SubmiflSon (hould
id. That they, who by any Means what-
', (hould fend or convey over any Money
idents in fuch Seminaries, (hould incur the
ty of a Pramunire [x). That if any of
eers of the Realm, Dakes, Marquifle^y
.IV. R ' Vif-
'hden in Kennet. Page 50^.
at is perpeuir |:xUe and Loft of lU ddr Coo^'
I
1
158 Ihe '^arltamentary H istort.
,* Vifcounts, or Barons of Parliament, fliould of-
* fend againft ihefe Laws, he ihould be brought lo
* his Trial by his Peers, Thatif any (bouldlcnow
* of any fuch 'Jefults, or other Priefts, above livid,
' lurking within the Realm, and fliould not difco-
' ver (hem within twelve Days, he fhould be 6tied
* and impriloned at the Queen's Pleafure. That
' if any Man ihould be fulpefted to be a Jefuit or
* Prieft, aforefaid, and not fubmit himfeif to Exa-
' mination, he fhould, for his Contemptj be im-
' prifored till he did fubmit. Thai he who fliould
* fend hi5 Children, or any others, to Seminaries
' and Colleges of the Psptjb ProfelTion, ihould be
* fined one Hundred Pounds £«£/(}* Money 1 And
' that thofe, who were (o fent chiiher, fliould not
' fucceed as Heirs, nor enjoy any Eftates, which
' ihould any Way fall to them ; the like for all
* fufh as fliould not return Home from the faid Se-
' minaries, within a Year, unlefs they did conform
* themfelvesto the Church of England. Thatif
' the Wardens or Officers of the Ports ihould per-
* mit any others, beiides Seamen. or Merchants, to
' crofs the Seas, without Licence from the Queen
* or iix Privy- Counfcllors, they fhould be put out
' of their Places ; and the Mailers of fuch Ships
' as carried them, fiiould forfeit their Ships and
* Goods, and fuffer Impiifonment for a whole
» Year.'
it niuft be allow'd that ihe Policy of this Afi
is worthy the Contrivance of a Cecd and a l-Fal-
fingham ; the two principal Minifters of this Reign.
By it. Popery was not only eradicated and driven
out of the Kingdom, but every Cranny llopp'd
up to prevent iis Reiurn. Cambden informs us
that the Bill mec with no Oppolition, in either
Houfe, but, only, from one Member of the Com-
mons, This Man's Name was Ifdliam Parry, a
ff^lchman, and a Civilian j who, pleading againit
it, faid, that it was a iruely bk'jdy and dejperatr
Law, and wauld be of pernicious Csnjequince to the
Englifh Nation. Being defired to fhew his Reafons,
he obftinately lefufedj unlefs it was beiore the
Queen's
Of ENGLAND. jj-j
Queen's Council. Upon this he was taken inioQa"'
Cuftody i but, his Reafons being afterwards heard, '
and Submiffion made, he was admiited ag:iiti into
ihe Houfe. Tho*, thfs zealous Man had better have
held his Tongue; for, very foon after, he was ac- y
cuted of beicg in a Plot to fubveri the Govern-
menr, and lake away the Queen's Life; was
found guilty and executed, as a Traitor for it, be-
fore the Pa!acc-Gate at IVeJfminJier, whilfl: the
Parliament was yet fitting (y).
Another Ilrong Bulwark 'was framed this Par-
lianvnt, for Support of the prefent Government;
and that v/as a Bill mentioned bd"ore, for the
Surety of the Qyeen's Royal Perfon, and the Con-
tinuance of Peace in the Realm. This was a
Stroke, aimed, direiftly, at the Queen of Scon and
her Title, and whoever dutft attempt to fet it up.
■It was read a third Time in the Hoiife of Lords
" and paffed, Marth ihe 13/^i and by it an AJfocia-
tien, as it is here called, was eilabliflied i the firlt
of this Kind we have yet met with. Thereby it
was enafled,
' That Twenty four, or more, of the Privy- ^« ^^ ff 'j"*
* Council and Houfe of Lord?, to be deputed by (Z^'n's Vcifon!
' the Queen's Commiflion, (hould make Inquilition
' after all fuch as (hould invade the Kingdom, rail'e
Rebellion, or aUempt to hurt or deftroy the
' Qi.ieen's Perfon, for or by whomfoever em-
'■ ployed that might lay Claim to the Crown of
' England. And that the Perfon, for whom or
' by whom they fhould attempt the fame, ihould
■ be utterly uncapable of any Title to the Crown,
' be deprived wholly of all Right to it, and pro-
I* fecuted to Death by all faithful Subjeias; if the
■" Perfon fhould be judged, by thefe Twenty fout
' Men, to be guihy ot fuch Rebellion, Invafion,
[ or treafonable Atiempi, and by publick Procla-
1 maiion fo declared.'
1 Thefe fevereLaw?, which however, hysCamb-
lr«, the Neceflities ol the Times required, drove:
R 2 the
f J See Ce;iSA,i
, P»i?e;ol,"6r
Air
,a]
niAcm
uncof 111
Ipl,..,
3D.I Pa
T.'i Conicljign
£f
mil
x^iad-
Cbrimkk
"■*
384.
0 139S-
r
^L Qgeeollui]:
•M mwmmw
aj8 The Tarliametitary'HisroKT.
^
I
Qgeeolliiibeib.* Vifcounts, or Barons of Parliament, fhould of-
* fend againft there Laws, he Ihould be t>rought to
* his Trial by his Peers. That if any fhould know
' of any fuch y^'f^j or other Priefts, above fa id,
' lurking within the Realm, and fhould not difco-
' vet them within twelve Days, he fhould be fined
' and imprifoned at the Queen's Pleafurc. That
' if any Man (hould be fufpefled to be a 'Jijuit or
' Prieft, aforefaid, and not fubmit htmfelf to Exa-
' miration, he fliould, for his Contempt, be im-
* prifoncd lill he did fubmit. That he who fhould
* fend his Children, or any others, to Seminaries
' and Colleges of the Popijb Profeffion, Ihould be
* fined one Hundred Pounds Engli/h Money : And
* that thoJe, who were fo fent tbuher, fhould not
' fucceed as Htirs, nor enjoy any Eftates, which
» fhould any. Way fall to them ; ihe like for all
* fuch as fhould not return Home from the faid Se-
' minaries, within a Year, unlels they did conform
* themfeives to the Church of England. That if
* the Wardens or Officers of the Ports fhould per-
' mit any others, beiides Seamen. or Merchants, to
* crofs the Seas, without Licence from the Queen
« or fix Privy-Counfellors, they fhould be pur out
* of their Places ; and the Matters of fuch Ships
* as carried them, fnould forfeit their Ships and
* Goods, and fufFer Imprifonment for a whule
* Year."
It nmft be allow'd that the Policy of this Aft
is worthy the Contrivance of a Ctiil and a ll^al-
fingbam ; the two principal Minifters of this Reign.
By it. Popery was not only eradicated and driven
out of the Kingdom, but every Cranny ftopp'd
up to prevent its Return. Cambden informs us
that the Bill met with noOppolition, in either
Houfei but, only, fiom one Member of the Com-
mons. This Man's Name was Jf'ilUam Parry, a
Wekhmnn^ and a Civilidn ; who, pleading againft
it, faid, that // was a cvuel^ hkudy and dejperau
Law, end would be ef pernicious Conjeguence to tht
Englifh Wur/un. Beingdefired tofhewhisReafons,
he obftinately lefufed, unleft it was beiorc the "
Queen's
Of ENGLAND. aj<)
Queen's Council. Upon this he was rafcen intoQa*"
Cuftody ; hut, his Reafons being afrerwards heatJ, '
and SubmilTion made, he was adraiUed again into
ihc Houfe. Tho', this zealous Man had better have
held his Tongue ; for, very loon after, he was ac- ^
cufed of being in a Plot to fubvcrt the Govern-
ment, and take away the Queen's Life; was
found guilty and executed, as a Traitor for it, be-
fore the Palace-Gate at IVeJtniinJlery whilft the
Parliament was yet fitting (y).
Another ftrong Bulwark"was framed this Par-
liament, for Support of the prefent Governmeni;
and that was a Hill mentioned before, for the
I -Surety of the Qiieen's Royal Perfon, and the Con-
inuance of Peace in the Realm. This was a
Ittroke, aimed, diredly, at the Queen of Scsts and
feer Titlcj and whoever dutft attempt to fet it up.
l*$t was read a third Time in the Houfe of Lords
r-ltod pafled, March the lyh; and by it an Affada-
\ itien, as it is here called, was eilablifhed ; the fii ft
|-of this Kind we have yet met with. Thereby it
■(has enadled,
' That Twenty four, or more, of the Privy- ^" *'
f Council and Houfe of Lords, to be deputed by {C^'
' the Queen's Commiffion, fhould make Inquiiition
■ after all fuch as ihould invade the Kingdom, rail'e
• Rebellion, or attempt to hurt or deftroy the
' Qiieen's Perfon, for or by whomfoever em-
' ployed that might lay Claim to the Crown of
' England. And that the Perfon, for whom or
' by whom they fhould attempt the fame, ihould
' be utterly uncapable of any Title to the Crown,
' be deprived wholly of all Right lo it, and pro-
i fecuted to Death by all faithful Subjeifis; if the
' Perfon fhould be judged, by thefc Twenty tour
f Men, to be guilty of fuch Rebellion, Invafion,
' or treafonable Attempt, and by publick Procla-
' mation fo declared.'
Thefe feveieLaws, which however, i'aysCamb-
W:4ifi, the Neceflines ol the Times required, drove
R 2 the
fyt Sec CarnhJcn, Fa^E ;o
Coofpiticy on.! Parr 's Confc
baHi Piffi 13^1 CO '39!'
I
ajS 'The Parliamentary Htsrov.r.
h.' Vifcounts, oc Barons of Parliament, fhould of-
' fend againft thefe Laws, he Oiould be brought to
* his Tnal by his Peers. That if any ftould know
' of any fuch 7^"'"> or other Ptielts, above faid,
' lurking within the Realm, andlhould not difco-
* ver them within twelve Days, he fhould be fined
' and imprilbned at the Qyeen's Pleafurc. That
' if any Man (hould be fulpedted lo be a yejhit or
* Prieft, aforelaiii, and not fubmit hiinfclf to Exa-
' mination, he fhouW, for his Contempt, be im-
* prifoned till he did fuboiit. That he who ihould
' fenJ his Children, or any others, to Seminaries
* and Colleges of the Papijb Profeflion, Ihould be
' fined one Hundred Pounds EngUJh Money : And
* that thofe, who were (o fent [hither, fliould not
* fucceed as Heirs, nor enjoy any Eftates, which
' fhould any.Way fall to them ; the like for all
* fuch as fliould not return Home from the faid Se-
* minaries, within a Year, unlefs they did conform
* themfelves to the Church of England, That if
' the Wardens or Officers of the Ports fhould per-
* mit any others, beiides Seamen. or Merchants, to
' crofs the Seas, without Licence from the Queen
.< or fix Privy- Counfellors, they fhould be pui out
« of their Places j and thtt Mailers of fuch Ships
* as carried them, (hould forfeit their Ships and
* Goods, and fuffer Impufonment for a whole
« Year.'
It nnill be allow'd that the Policy of this Aft
is worthy the Contrivance of a Cei'd and a IPal-
fingham ; the two principal Minifters of this Reign.
By it, Papery was not only eradicated and driven
out of the Kingdom, hut every Cranny ftopp'd
up to prevent its Reiurn. Cambien informs us
that the Bill met with no Oppofition, in either
Houfe> but, only, from one Member of the Com-
mons. This Man's Name was WilUam Parry, a
Wekhman^ and a Civilijn ; who, pleading againlb
it, faid, that it was a nuel, bhtidy and dtjpemlr
haxv, and would be of pernicious Canjtguenee to the
Englifh Nation. Being defired lolhewhisReafons,
he obftinately refufed, unlefs it was beiore the
Queen's
Of ENGLAND. 255
Queen's Council. Upon this he was taken intoQ!l«''EUzabeth; .
Cuftody ; hut, his Reafons being afterwards heard, ^'^5-
and SubmiiTion made, lie was admiiied again into
the Houfe. Tho', this zealous Man had tietter have
held his Tongue ; for, very loon after, he was ac- .^^^^^
cufed of being in a Plot to fubverc the Govern- "'^'^
ment, and take avray the Queen's Life; was
found guilty and executed, as a Traitor for it, be-
fore the Palace-Gate at IVeflminper^ whilft the
Parliament was yet fitting (>;.
Another (Irong Bulwark' was framed this Par-
liament, for Support of the prelent Ggvernment;
and that v/as a Bill mentioned brfore, for the
Surety of the Qiicen's Royal Perfon, and the Con-
W^uance of Peace in the Realm. This was a
L'iBlTake, .aimed, direflly, at the Queen ol Beats and
ler Title, and whoever dutft attempt to let it up.
'e was read a third Time in the Houfe of Lords
Bid paffed, March the iyh; and by it an Affhaa-
Mwff, as it is here called, was eftablidiedi the firft
l-of this Kind we have yet met with. Thereby it
Jcas enadied,
' That Twenty four, or more, of the Privy- '^ ^^ f"' ^^
%^ Council and Houfe of Lord", to be deputed by qS's "pcironl
.* the Queen's Commif!ion, fhould make Inquifision
* after all fuch as Ihould invade the Kingdom, raife
* Rebellion, or attempt to hurt or deftroy the
U* Queen's Perfon, for or by whomfoever em-
p ployed that might lay Claim to the Crown of
W* England, And that the Perfon, for whom or
M by whom they fhould attempt the fame, fliould
* be utterly uncapable of any Title to the Crown,
* be deprived wholly of all Right to it, and pro-
* fecuted to Death by ail faithful Subje^s ; if the
' Perfon Oiould be judged, by thefe Twenty four
* Men, to be guilty ot fuch Rebellion, Invafion,
' or ircafonable Attempt, and by publick Procla-
* mation fo declared."
Thele fevereLaws, which however, (sysCami-
den, the Neceflities ol the Timw required, drove
R 2 the
fyl Sit CaniMf, Pa^t ;ol, STr. Airo, a long Accaunr of thii
CDaTpiracy aoA ?arr. 's ConldTiaii, (^(. in Hdlingfriii''. Ciimcl;,
&Bft Pule 1384, to 1395.
aj8 'the Tarliamentary H istort.
4
I
QaienEKMlieth,' Vifcounts, or Baions of Parliament, fliould of-
s^s- ' fend a^inft thefe Laws, he ihould be brought to
* his Trial by his Peers. That if atiy fhould know
' of any (uch 5'^''"i or other Priefts, above laid,
' lurking within the Realm, andfliould not difco-
' ver ih^m within twelve Days, he fhould be fined
* and impiifoned at the Qyeeii's Picafurc. That
' if any Man Ihould be fulpefted to be a Jefuit or
' Prieft, aforefaid, and not fubmit himfelf to Exa-
' mination, he fliould, for his Contempt, be im-
' prifoned till he did fubmit. That he who fhould
* fend his Children, or any olhere, to Seminaries
* and Colleges of the Popijb Profeition, ihould be
' fined one Hundred Pounds ^B^/iA Money ; And
' that thofe, who were fo fent thither, Ihould not
' fucceed as Heirs, nor enjoy any Eftates, which
* Ihould any Way fall to them ; the like for all
* fuch as fliould not return Home from the faid Se-
* minaries, within a Year, unlels ihey did conform
* themfelves to the Church of England. That if
' the Wardens or Officers of the Ports fliould per-
' mil any others, befides Seamen. or Merchants, to
» crofs the Seas, without Licence from the Queen
* or (ix Privy- Counfcllors, they fhould be put out
' of [heir Places ; and the Maflers of fuch Ships
' as carried them, fnould forfeit their Ships and
* Goods, and fuffer Impiiibnment for a whole
» Year.'
It nuift be allow'd that the Policy of thii Ail
is worthy the ConirivAnce of a Cecil and a //-ii/-
fingham ; the two principal Minifters of this Reign.
By it. Popery was not only eradicated and driven
out of the Kingdom, but every Cranny flopp'd
up to prevent its Return. Cambden informs us
that the Bill met wiih no Oppohtion, in either
Houfe, but, only, from one Member of the Com-
mon?. This Man's Name was IVilliam Parry, a
tVelthmanj and a Civilian ; who, pleading againft
it, faid, that it was a itvely bk'jdy and dejptrat*
Laiv, and tvouid if of penicieus Conjcguince to the
Englifli Nation. Being delired to fliew hisReafons,
he obHinately lefufed, unlefs it was be;ore the
Queen's
I
0/ E N G L A N D. 259
Queen's Council. Upon ihis he was taken intoQa^nEllubetbi
Cuftody ; but, his Reafons being afterwards heard, 's^*'
and Sobtniffion made, he was admitted ag;iin into
the Houfe. Tho', this zealous Man had better have
held his Tongue; for, very foon after, hewasac- ^jr^^l^^
cufcd of being in a Plot to fubvert the Govern- ^-^^ .
ment, and take away the Queen's Life; w^as
found guilty and executed, as a Traitor for it, be-
fore the Palace-Gate at JFeJlminftery whtlft the
Parliament was yet filtiug (yj.
Another ftrong Bulwark "was framed this Par-
liament, for Support of the prefeni Government;
and that v/as a Bill mentioned brfbre, for the
Surety of the Queen's Royal Pcrfon, and the Con-
tinuance of Pe.ice in the Realm. This was a
Stroke, aimed, diredtly, at the Queen of Scots and
her Title, and whoever durft attetnpt to let it up.
It was read a third Time in the Houfe of Lords
■ and paffed, March the ilth; and by it an AJficla-
tian, as it is here caHed, was ellabliOied; the firll:
of this Kind we have yet met with. Thereby it
was enafled,
* That Twenty four, or more, of thePrivv- '^^ ^a f™ tb«
,• Council and Houfe of Lords, to be deputed by ^^fvzibl
;' the Queen's Commiifion, fhould make Inquifiiion
* after all fuch as fhould invade the JCiitgdom, raife
* Rebellion, or attempt to hurt or deftroy the
* Qiieen's Perfon, for or by whomfoever em-
* ployed that might lay Claim to the Crown of
* England. And that the Perfon, for whom or
' by whom they fhould attempt the fame, fhould
* be utterly uncapable of any Title to the Crown,
* be deprived wholly of all Right to it, and pro-
' fecutcd to Deuth by all faithful Subjefls; if the
' Perfon ftioulil be judged, by thefe Twenty four
* Men, to be guilty ot fuch Rebellion, InvaJion,
* or Ircafonabie Attempt, and by publick Procla-
* maiion (b deciared,'
Thefe fevereLaws, which however, faysCaffli-
itHj the Ncccffities ol ihe Times required, drove
R 2 the
fji %ee CamUtn, Pt(,e ;oi,"£ff. Alfo, a Igng Account of thiE
Coorplricj ami Pai-c, '. Conl'tirion, &,: in Hailing/bead- s Chnmcl',
tiaht F^e I3&f, id 1395.
ajS The Tarliatnentary HisroKj,
Q^utenlliiibtih.* Vifcounts, or Barons of Parliament, fliould of-
s^S' ' fend againft ihefe Laws, he fliould be brought to
* his Tnal by his Peers- That if any (hould know
' of any (uch y^f/Z/i, or other Priells, above fa id,
* lurking within the Realm, and Ihould not difco-
' ver them within twelve Days, he (houtdbe fined
* and imprifoned at the Queen's Pleafure. Tliat
' if any Man (hould be fulpefled to be a Je/uil or
* Prieft, aforefaid, and not fubmit himfelf to £xa-
' mination, he fliould, for his. Contempt, be im-
' prifoncd till he did fubmit. That he who Jhould
' fend his Children, or any others, to Seminaries
' and Colleges of the Papijb Profeflion, fhould he
' fined one Hundred Pounds £n^lifi Money ; And
* that thofe, who were fo fent thither, fliould not
' fucceed as Heirs, nor enjoy any Eftates, which
* fhould any Way fall to ihem ; the like for all
* fuch as fhould not return Home from the faid Se-
* minaries, within a Year, uulefs they did conform
* themfelves to the Church of England. That if
' the Wardens or Officers of the Ports fliould per-
* niit any others, belides feamenor Merchants, to
* crofs the Seas, without Licence from the Queen
,* or fix Privy- Counfellors, they fliould be put out
' of their Places; and the Mailers of fuch Ships
* as carried them, fliould forfeit their Ships and
* Goods, and fuffer Impitfonment for a whole
» Year."
It mvift be allow'd that the Policy of this A^
is worthy the Contrivance of a Cecil and a l^ai-
fingham % the two principal Miniftersof this Reign.
By it. Popery was not only eradicated and driven
out of the Kingdom, hut every Cranny ftopp'd
up to prevent iis Remrn. Camhdfn informs as
that the Bill met with no Oppolition, in either
Houle, but, only, from one Member of the Com-
mon?. This Man's Name was IVilliam Parry, a
fVfkhman, and a Civilian i who, pleading againft
it, faid, that // was a cruel, bh'jdy and dejperate
Law, and would be sf pernicious Canjeguence to the
Englifii Nation. Being defired to fliew hisRcafons,
he obftinately tefufed, unlefs it was beiore the
Queen's
W 0/ E N G L A N D. 255
Queen's Council. Upon this he was tafcen !n[oQH"nEliiiljnh;
Cuftody ; but, his Rea/bns being afterwards heard, ^^^^'
and Submifiion made, he was admitted again into
the Houfe. Tho', thfE zealous Man had better have
held his Tongue ; for, very foon after, he was ac- .^^i^"-
cufcd of being in a Plot to fubvert the Govern- "'"^"
ment, and take away the Queen's Life; was
found guilty and executed, as a Traitor for it, be-
fore the Palace-Gate at Tyeflminjfer, whilft the
Parliament was yet fitting (yj.
Another ftrong Bulwark'was framed this Par-
liament, for Support of the prefeni Government;
and that v/as a IJill mentioned before, for the
I Surety of the Qiieen's Royal Ptrfon, and the Con-
tinuance of Peace in the Realm. This was a
Stroke, aimed, direftly, at the Queen of Scots and
her Title, and whoever durft attempt to fet it up.
■It was read a third Time in the Houfe of Lords
• and paBed, March the 13/ii and by it an AJfacia-
tisui as it is here called, was ellabliflied ; the firll
of this Kind we have j'et met with. Thereby it
was cradled,
' That Twenty four, ot more, of the Privy- ■^" ^^ f°' ^^'
'* Council and Houfe of Lords, to be deputed by w[-s pHfon!
J* iheQueen'sCommiilion, (hould makeInquifi:ion
* after all fuch as fhouJd invade the Kingdom, raife
* Rebellion, or attempt to hurt or dellroy the
' Qyeen's Perfon, for or by whomfoever em-
* ployed that might lay Claim to the Crown of
* England. And that the Perfon, for whom or
* by whom they {hould attempt the fame, fliould
* be utterly uncapable of any Title to the Crown,
* be deprived wholly of all Right to it, and pro-
* fecuted to Death by all faithful Subjects; if the
* Perfon (hould be judged, by thefe Twenty fout
* Men, to be guilty of luch Rebellion, Invafion,
* or treafonable Attempt, and by publick Procla-
* mation fo declared.'
Thefe feveteLaws, which however, faysCtfWi-
dntj the Ncceflities ol the Times required, drove
R 2 the
(j) SetCjimhJa
CoDTpiTacy anH Pn
itati Pa|e 1384, 1
»
Q.6o The TarliaMentary HiSTour
QaeenEiiiabeth. the CathoHcs hcrc to very great Stnuts ; miq
15^5- of them ftole out of the Kingdom ; and, if di
Laws had been put in full Execution agaioft tben;
in all Probability, v/e (hould not have bad ooeiQi
tient Popijb Family refiding in it at this Day. Bi(
afterwards, when their Sovereign was taken off,lllt
ters went eafier with them, and they were fi|f
fered to live unmolefted for the reft of this Rqpj
But, there was then another Party in the '"'
dom whom it was neceflary to guard againft,
that was the Puritans : The Queen was very
acquainted with their Principles; but the DC ,^
Game of Popery, being then in full Cry to'tni
down, thefe were tolerated becaufe they rei^
joined in the Purfuit. And many of the Mendq
having imbib'd their Tenets, which the Queen "
felf, in her Speech, at the End of thisSemoOi
Islew'fanglednefsy a Bill was propofed and
in the Houfe of Commons, plainly tending U>
form the Church, much further than it had
to been carried.
How long, or what Debates had been in
Houfe about this Bill, will beft appear in
Journal \ for it was not till the latter End of
Seflion that it was fent up to the Lords, wherei
find it under this broken Title, Die Mortis
Martii^ Hodie allata ejl a Dom. Com.
' An Adt of a Statute
ttwi / u ' yinno 17,, of the Queen's Majefty's Reign,
Refection in' ' ^'^^' ^n Ad to reform certain Difordcn t<
the Church. ' ing ivlinifteis of the Church, ^a prima
« lediaefi:
What the Blank was to be filled up with il
to the Reader's Judgment; but fince it was
ed at the firlt Reading in this Houfe, for it isi:
mentioned again, it is probable the Title wasj
fo blind, in order to diiguile it to Poftcrity.
Adl made in the 13th Year of this Reign, fall
forming Abuies in the Church, is explained befc
the Courfe of this Volume (>.) It was then
againrt the Puritans ; but now they thought
(j^; See befoie Page lor.
ENGLAND.
261
I
had Power enough to turn it againft the Church, q
Mr. Cambde?i's own Account of this Attempt will
bell juftity the Aflertion, This Author writes
that {z)
* In this Parlbmcnt fome there were, who, out
* of a Delire, either of Innovation or Reforma-
* tion, (truck deeply at the Eccleiiaftical Order,
* though the Qiieen had forbid it. By bringing in
* of Bills for reftraining the Epifcopal Jurifdiflion
' in granting of Faculties; in conferring holy Or-
' dcrs ; in Ecclefiaftical Cenfures, and in the Oatli
* ex Officio. Propofing a new Oath to be taken by
■ theBifhops in the Chancery and the King'sBench,
* viz. that they Ihould aSt nothing contrary to the
* common Law of England. They, alfo, requi-
' red Reddence from the Clergy, that every Mini-
' ftcr fliould be relident at his own Cure; and ex-
* claimed againft the Church oF England as if it
* was deftitute of able and learned Pallors, which,
* without Doubt, had more learned Paitors, at
* this Prefent, than any other Age ot any other
* Reformed Church could fliew. But the Queen,
* who had a high Elleem for moderate Cliurch-
* men, mifliked Innovators, as always chang-
* ing for the worfe, as tending to overthrow her
* Prerogative- and the Supreme Authority grantej
* to her iti EcclefJHllical Matters." Thus
fax the Mjhrian of this Reign,
On the I yh of March, the Commons fent up
a Grant of a Supply to her Majefty, confifting of
one entire Suhfidy, which was Two Shillings and a s«b£dj.
Eight Pence on Goods, and Four Shillings on
Lands, according to Btuwe (a) ; and two Fifteenths
and Tenths. On the fecond Reading, the Lords
drop'd the Tenths i and it was palled lb by the prin-
ted Statutes. An A£t for a Sublidy of hx Shillings
in the Pound, from the Clergy, to be paid in three
Years, was, alfo, confirmed this Seffion.
Tliere are alfo federal Tryals, on Appeals,
td in the herd's Journ.sh, but none of them l
R 3
, P.^ SOI-
!, enter- ^^^^^B
to ^^^^^M
our ' ^^^^H
afia TheTarlhrneiitary History
^_ our Purpofe. Nor is theve any Thing elle material
"'^""'i^^;'" ' 10 the hit Day of the Seflion, which we fhatl poft-
pone to fee what Ihc Commons were doing.
The firft Bill of Moment read in ihst Houfe,
was, for the better and more reverend Oblervancc
ft Bill for tht°^ ^^^ Sabbath-Day. AW. 27(16, this Bill was
jfttet obfeivi.commilted to a large Number ot Members, there
fran of ihe Sib- named, to confider of" it; who, we find, framed a
"'''■ new one, which was read ; but did not pafs the
two Hovifes without much Difpute and great Dif-
ficulty ; Amendments upon Amendments being
added to it.
Nov. z%th. Sir Walter Mihhnay, Chancellor of
the Exchequer, taking Occaiion to fpeak of the
ludden Calling of this Parliament, at fuch an un-
feafonable Time of the Year, and the Likelihood
of the fliorl Continuance of it, did thereupon de-
clare ihe fame to be called for very urgent and nc-
ccflary Caufcs.
Sir Chrijhphir Hattm, Vice- Chamberlain of her
Majefty's Houfhold, fpake next ; and, as it feems,
much to the fame EffeiSl as the Chancellor ; but
both thefe Speeches are omitted in the Jaurnebt
though they lafted above two Hours. At the End
of which a Committee was appointed to confider
of a Supply.
Notwiihftanding the Queen's Injunflions to the
contrary, yet this Houfe could rot forbear to enter
ftiil dceptT .into Religious Matters ; and on D*«ot.
14M, three Pciitions were read touching the Liber-
ty of godly Preachers, to exerciJe and continue
their Miniitry; and alfo, for the fpeedy Supply of
able and fufficient Men into divers Places, now
deftituie of the ordinary Means of Salvarion. But
though ihe further Proceedings in this were dc-
ferted to a more convenient Time by the Houfe,
yet, one Dr. Turner rols up and put the Houfe in
Mind of a Bill with a Book which he had offered
to tl(em ; and, as he faid, ihisBill and Book being
framed by certain godly and learned Minifters,
tending, as he conceived, to the Glory of God,
the Safety of her Majefly, and the Good of the
Com«
1
I
I
»
0/ E N G L A N D. iSj }
Common-Wealth; therefore prayed that it miglUQgfenElkilietli.
be read. To this. Sir Francis Knolks replied, but 'sS;.
in few Words; and after him S\{ Chrijhpher Hatton
more largely; who prefled and moved the Houfc
fo much therein, that it was at length refolvcd that
the faid Bill and Book flinuld not be read. And, as
to all neceflary Liberty to the aforefaid Minifters,
or a Supply of able Men in Places that wanted, it
was not doubted but that her Majefty would take
fooiB fpeedy Orderabout ihem. Then iirChri/ls-
pher Hattm moved that for the better and more
fpeedy Expedition of other great Matters now in
Band, the Houfe would proceed lo the Reading
of a Bill, lately finiihed, for the Safety and Pre-
fervation of the Qi.icen's Roya] Perfon. And the
rather becaufe he conceived they would Ihort-
ly be adjourned till after Chrijlmafi.'
By fuch Evafions as thefe, the Courtiers found
Means to prevent the zealous Part of ihc Houfe
from going upon Matters fo Very dilagreeable to
the Queen.
But, being prevented in this, their Zea! was the
more turned to the utter Extirpation of Popery out of
the Kingdom. The Bill againft Jefuits, Seminary
Priefts, and fuch like difobedient Subjefts was carri-
ed through ihb Houfe with great Vigour. It paiTed
with little or no Oppofition, but from Dr. Purry^
mentioned before. The journals of the Com-
mons are more particular, than the Hyhrian before
quoted, about this Affair, which we fliall give in
their own Words as follows ;
' The Bill, upon the Reading, paffed the Houfe
with little or no Argument, except it were from ^^- ^"n Ti*
one Dr. Parry, who in very violent Terms fpake 'th^'BiiT^f^
direflly againft the whole Bill; affirming it to la- jcruiu imj Se-
vour of Treafons, lo be full of Blood, Danger, 'n'n"TP"E'*l(
Defpair, and Terror or Dread to the EngUJ!} Stih- *'^-
jefls of this Realm, our Brethren, Uncles, and
Kinsfolks 1 and alio full of Con fi feat ions, but un-
to whom? Not, faid hi^ to her Majefty, (which
he wiftied they were) and laid, he did not thinfc the
^(^fary but that Zeal would caufe the Bill to
'' ' ■ have
a.64 Tf}e Tarliafrientary History
1
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m Eli ubsih. have Paliage both in this Hoiife and with the
15!;. Iiords; but yet he hoijed when it fhould come into
her Highnefs's moft merciful Hands, that it woultj
flay and reft there; until which Time (he faid) be
would referve his Realbns of his negative Voic*;
againft the Bill, then to be difcovercd by him only
Vinto her Majefty.'
' Whereupon Dr. Parry, by Order of this
Houfe, was appointed to be fequeftred into the
outer Room of this Houfe into the Serjeant's Cufto-
dy. and without conferring with any, whilft the
Matter now in Queftion, concerning his former
Speeches againft the Bill laft palled, is in Debating
or Arguing, until he fhall be called in again. Ana
afterwards, being brought to the Bar, and iherf
kneeling upon his Knee, he was told by Mr. Speaker
in Name of the whole Houfe, That if he thought
good, the Houfe was contented to hear him what
^eafons he could yield for himfelf in Maintenance
pf his faid Speeches againft the aforcfaid Bill, to
the better Satisfaflion of this Houfe; or what other
Matter of Excufe he could ailedge touching hjs
former Contempt, uttered in the Prefence of this
faid Houfe, in very unleemly Manner, and in unfit-
ting Words, in that he did fpeak fo direflly, re-
proachfully and abfolutely againft a Bill, firft: tra-
velled in, and pubJickly allowed of in the Houfe;
and then coniiderately and mamrely perufed and
(iigefted by fo great and grave a Committee, felec-
ted and framed out of the ableft Members of this
^oufe, who having further diligently and dutifully
laboured therein, and brought it again into tl^
Houfe with one unanimous Approb.ition of it as of
a good and iiecefTary Bill; and ihar, laftly, it had
been alfo fo approved of this Day, and upoji the
third Reading had palled the Houl'ej and yet, that
he, the faid Dr. Parry, had termed the faid Bill to
be a Bii! favouring of Treafons, and 10 be full of
Confifcaiions, Blood, Pangcr, Defpair, and Ter- ■
ror 10 the Sufajeds of this Realm; and withal, that
be would well prove and juftify ihe fame by good
""''□s, which neverthekfs (he faidj he would noi
■ould noi jm
t
Of ENGLAND. i(!5
deliver to this Houfe; but would referve them only Que*
to be revealed to her Majefty. Whereupon being
further demanded, as aforefaid. What further Ex-
cufe or Defence he could make for himfelf? He
anfwered. That what he had faid (and bound it
with aProieftalion) was without any Intent of Of-
fence towards the Queen's Majefty (to whom he -
owed all dutiful Obedience) or towards the Houle ;
and made Repetition of his faid former Words, and
ftill avowed the Juftification of the fame. And fo
«ntring into fonie Declaiaiion of his own Eftaie
tending altogether to his own Credit, as of his fun-
dry good Services done to her Majefty, his Repu-
tation with Perfons of good Sort, and other foch
like Speeches in his own Commendation; conclu-
ded in the End, that as before when he fpake to
the Bill, and gave his negative Voice to the fame,
be then concealed his faid Reafonsfroni this Houfe,
fo he would now conceal the fame ftill.'
' Whereupon being fequeftred again, it was re-
foived. That for that he did fpeak to the Bill, and
gave his negative Voice fo diretlly and undutifully,
and in Contempt of ibis Houfe would not (hew
his Reafons for the fame, being merely againft the
ancient Orders and Ufage of this High Court, and
not for that he faid he would fhew them only to be
difcovered to her Majefty, it was refolved. That
he fhouJd be committed to the Serjeant's Ward til!
the Matter (hall be further coniidered of by this
Houfe, the Day being tlien very far fpent.'
* The next Day Mr. Vice-Chamberlain decla-
red unto the Houfe, tJiat her Majefty having been
made privy unto the Misbehaviour of Doftor
Parry Yefterday (hewed in this Houfe, and of the
Order of this Houfe taken therein with him for
the fame; her Highnefs doth not only deem him to
have given juft Caule of Offence unto this Houfe
fai the fame his Mifdemeanor, hut alfo doih very
well allow of the grave Difcretion of this Houfe,
fa forbearing for the Time to ufe any (harp Couife
of Corrcdlion againft him for his faid Offence i in
l^fpeO that he had faid he referved hia Reafons to
be
L
a66 7he Tarliamentary HiSToar
QjKwiEHtilwtli. ^ imparted to her Majefty only; which as he had
ijgs. ' difcovcred unto fome df the Lords of the Council
by her Highnefs's Appointment, and that partly to
the Saiisfadion of her Majefty, fo her Highnefs
did think, that upon his humbk SubmifTion unto
this Houfe, with a dutiful Acltnowledgemeni of
his Fault, this Houfe would the rather difpenfe
with him therein.'
* Which done, Doilior Parry was called to
the Bar, where humbly acknowledging his Fault
upon his Knees, it was told him by Mr. Speaker,
after he had put him in Remembrance of the Man-
ner of his Offence, that it might be the Houfe
would neverthelefs deal favourably with him, if
they ftiould fee fuch Caufe upon his unfeigned and
eameft Confefliun and Repeniance of his Fault,
and his humble Submiflion unto the Houfe, with
good and dutiful Endeavour of Amendment here-
after. And then kneeling upon his Knee in very
humble Manner, affirmed diredlly, that he had
very undutifully misbehaved himfelf, and had rafti-
!y and unadvifedly uttered thofe Speeches he ufed,
and was with all his Heart very forry for it; al-
ledging withal, that he had never been of this
Houfe before this Seffion, and fo could not fo well
know the Orders of the Houfe as he Ihould doj
and that he would not willingly offend this Houfe,
nor any Man in it; and I"o humbly prayed their
good Favour towards him.*
' Whereupon being fequeftred again out of the
Houfe, it was after fome Argumenis and Speeches
had, refolved. That upon that his faid Acknow-
ledgement of his Fault, and his humble Submiffi-
on, he fliould be received into this Houfe again as
a Member of the fame, and take his Place as be-
fore, fo that he would afterwards ufe himfelf in
good Sort as he ought to do. And thereupon be-
ing called again to the Bar, and there kneeling upon
his Knee, and directly reiterating his lormer Con-
fefSon of his Fault, and alfo, his former humble
SubmilEonj protefting further, that if ever after
he fhould give any juft Caufe of Offence again lo
this
1
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Of E N -G L A N D. 2«7
this Houfe, or any Member thereof, he would then QutenEiia
never after crave any more Favour of them.' 'i^s-
' Whereupon Mr. Speaker declared tlie good
Pleafure of this Houfe in remitting his faid Offence
by receiving him again into ihem, with Condition
and Hope of his better Behaviour hereafter. Which
as he profeffed and promifed to perform according-
ly, fo did he in very good dutiful Sort, give moft
humble Thanks unto God, and to her Majefty,
and alfo unto this whole Houfe, and to every
Member of the Came, for their good, courteous,
and fevourable Dealing towards him in this Behalf.'
But the Affair had a more tragical End after
Chrijlmafe, as hath been before related.
The i^tb o^ December, Mr. Vice- Chamberlain
declared unto the Houfe, That her Majefty confi-
dering the great Pains and faithful Travels of that
Houfe in the Service of Affairs in the Realm, had ~. „ ,.
, . . 1. , I. 1- r The ParliamtBt
deter mmed to adjourn the Parliament to fome o- adjourned,
ther convenient Time after Chrijimafs; that fuch
Gentlemen and other Members of this Houfe
might the more conveniently repair to their own
Home, in the mean Time, for their better Eafe
and Recreation. On which it was refolved that
the moft humble and dutiful Thanks of this Houfe, A
be returned to her Majefiy, for this her moft gra- 1
cious Confideralion, and for her grateful Accepta- i
rion of their dutiful Care for Providing for the Se-
curity of her Royal Perfon.
' To this Addrefs of Thanks Mr. Vice-Cham-
berlain returned the following Aniwer ; in which J*"'^^'"'*
he did very eloquently and very earneftly fet forth Adders of
her Majefty's moft princely, gracious and kind Ac- Thanks dam
cepiation vi the humble and moft dutiful Thank- '^^ ^^"""^
fulnefs of this Hoult, lb preff;ted iinto her High-
nefe, to her right great and high Saiiifaition, Joy
and Comfort \ and declared wiihal, that her High-
pefs did for the fame give moft hearty and loving
Thank? unto this whole Honle, yea, and that in
Redoubling to them their Thanks len Thouland
Thoufand-fold; and fo urther, very excellently,
amply, and aptly, fhewed both the ready, careful,
and
[
i(S8 The Parliamentary Histort
whole Houfe to ths
dutiful Service of her Majefty, and alfo on the
olher Side, her Highneli's incomparable PrinLcIy
Account and Regarii of all Juch loyal, loving, and
faithful Subjefts ; and concluded, that her Majeily's
Pleafure was, that this Houfe fhould well know,
that in the Conlideration of the free Courfe of the
Gofpel of Jt/iii Chri/l amongll us, our long con-
tinued Peace, and Plenty of God's good BlefRngs
and Benefits bellowed upon us lender the Minillry
of her Highnefs, her Majefty doth molt lincerely
afcribe all the fame, only and wholly, to the great
Goodnefsand Mercy of Almighty God; attribu-
ting the Caufe of thefe good Etfefts (next under
God's Providence) to the good Demerits of to re-
ligious, godly, and obedient Subjeds, of whom
how well and kindly her Majefty doth think and
conceive, her Highnefs had much rather have told
them in her own molt Royal Perfon, than have
fignificd it unto them by any other, if it might
have conveniently been fo done, as upon the Op-
portunity of a Prorogation or Dillbluiion of this
Court, And further declared, that her Majefly,
having Regard to the great Charges and Expences
of their Attendance in the Service of this great
Council of the Realm, wilheth them at their next
Meeting again, to bellow the Time as much as
may be, in publick and genera! Aftiooi, Siteft for
the Common-Weal of this Realm, and that witli
as little Lois of Timeas may be. And withal, that
thofe of this Houie towards the Law, would join
together to do their belt Endeavours to devife Ibms
good Laws to abridge and cut off the long and
tedious Courfes, and extreme chargeable Circuits,
and fuperfluous Delays of Sui;sinLawi not doubt-
ing but that in fo doing God will blels their Wealth
and good Eltates, both in themfelves and in thcip
Pofteriiy. And fo having, as he thought, duiiful.T
ly imparled unto them the Sum and Subftance of j
her Majeily's Pleafure, and Mellbge comiaitred |
unto this Houfe by him, though not in fuch effec-' \
tual and lingular kind 'J"erms apd Forfns as hep j
Princely
1
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0/ E N G L A N D. ii6p
Princely Wifdom delivered the fame unto him; and Qu«nEliMbeiki
fo referring himfelf to the Refidue of this Houfe '*'^"
of her Majeily's Counci], then and now prefcnc,
to be put in Remembrance by them, if he have
omitted any Part thereof, and they affirming he
had rot, he ended his Speech.'
But, to (hew the Tafte of thefe Times, and the
Piety of tlie Courtiers of thofe Days Hill the more }
on the 2 ij! of December, when the Parliament was
adjourned from thai Day to the a.lh of February fol-
lowing, ' The faid Mr. Vice-Chamberlain, flood
- up again, and putting the Houfe in Mind of her Ma- Mr.yice-Cham.
jefty's moll Princely and lovinu; Rmdneflbs, (ignified ]"^*l" Houflwi
unto this Houfe, in ihe former Meflages and Decla- that Otatma,
xations of her Highnefs's thankful Acceptations of
ihe dutiful Cares and Travels of this Houfe in the
Service of her Majefty and the Realm, moved the
Houfe, ' That befides the R^ndring of our moft
humble and loyal Thanks unto her Highnefs, we do,
being aflembled aliogeiher, join our Hearts and
Minds together in moft humble and earneft Prayer
Unto Almighty God, for the long Coniinuance of
ihe moft profperous Prefervation of her Majefty.
with moft due and thankful Acknowledgment of
his infinite Benefits and Bleffings, poured upon this
■whole Realm, through the Mediation oi her High-
nef^s Miniftry under him. And he faid, he had a
Paper in Writing in his Hand , devifed and fet down
by an honeft, godly, and learned Man, and which,
albeit it was not very well written, yet he would
willingly read it as w;ll as he could, if it jileafed
them to follow and fay after him, as he (hould be-
gin and fay before them. Which being afl'ented
unto moll willingly of all the whole Houfe, and
every one kneeling upon his Knees, the faid Mr.
Vice- Chamberlain begun the faid Prayer. Whidi
being ended, every one departed away for that
Time, until the faid Day of Adjournment.'
At which Time this Parliament being met again,
we find nothing in their Proceedings, ro our Pur-
pofcj the firft Days of their Silting being taken up
with a long Difpute between the two Houfes abou:
the
a7o 'The T.trliamentary History
'*=*",|^'«'^- Ihe Form of pafllng a Bill to prevent fraudulent
' ^' Conveyances; and another, (or the better Obfcr-
vance of the Sabbath-Day. And, it was not till
Fek i^d, that the HouTe of Commons took int^
Confideration the Stale of the Nation. The Dan-
gers which were imminent over the Kingdom, and
the Means to prevent them ; the great ExpenceB
her Majefty had been at, Wi. In which thefe fol-
lowing Particulars are obferved
The Commoiu * The Open Dangers threatned to this Kingdom
take intu Con- are from Spain, the Pepe and the holy League \d
^"cf^t Prance; the fecrct from the 7fya/>i, that fecretl/
NaHon. lurlced here to ftir up her Majefty's Subjefts of the
Roman Religion to all Manner of Treafon and Re-
bellion : Both which Dangers though the Timi
of them were a while intermitted in rcfpeft of the
Execution, yet the Purpol'e was not ; which their
late Confpiracies and Attempts both here and la
Ireland did plainly (hew.'
' The Means to prevent thefe Dangers were to
ibpprefs the Spreading of Jefuits and the Growing
of Popery; tO exsdt fuch Oaths of the Papijii ^
had been already ordained ; to provide for the Pre-
fervation of her Majcfty's Perfon; to terrify In-
hmd, and to provide luflicient Forces at Home both
by Land and Sea,'
' The great Espence that her Majefty had been
at, even fince the laft Parliament, did appear plalnlj
jn refpedlof divers Places and For'C-which had been
repaired, much Powder and Munition had beeft
ftored up, and her Navy alio (Jnce that Time in-
crcafed : Belides many other extraordinary Char-
ges and Expences which (he had been at, in the Af-
fifting of her Allies, and ilie Preferving ai Ireland i
and that her Majefty did fpecially (hun Danger
from heknd, of which they conceived this Pro-
verb to be true, Loot to IreUnd if we mill reft guiet
Lin England. And therefore ibme Members, of
the Privy-Coui>cil, did move to think of what Sup-
ply v-'ere now fii to be given to her Majefty to-
wards the Supporting and Snftaining of all her la«]
great Expences and Charges.*
On
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0/ E N G L A N D. 371
On the next Day a Motion being made for a g^j^j,;^,^^.^
Supply to be granted to her Majefty, a large Com- issj.
miltec of the Commons were appointed to meet
and draw up a Bill for that Purpofej which waK
mentioned, before, in out Account of the Lords.
But the old Topic of R/firmathn was again
ftarted in the Commons; and fince they were pro-
hibited from Addreflinglhe Queen in that Matter,
they thought proper to make iheir Application to
the Bifliops and Lords of the upper Houfe, by
\yay of Petition (i).
* Nothing of any Moment happen'd till the ]aft
l>ay ot this Sellion) March the 29?^, when the
iQueen came to the Houfe of Lords, and the Com-
mons attending! the Speaker after his humble Reve-
rence made, and fome ExprelTions of his Thank-
fiilnefs to her Majefty, proceeded according to ^ SuWidy,
the ufual Courfe, to defire her Majefty to give Life
lo fuch Laws, by adding her gracious Allowance
unto them, as had paffed either Houfe, and remain-
ed as yet but as a dead Letter; and withal, gave
her Majefty Knowledge ol the free Gift of the
Houfe of Commons, of one Suhjidy and two Fif-
ttenthf and "tenths."
* To which Speech of the faid Prolocutor's the
Lord Chancellor, by her Majefty's Commandment,
anfwered, That fhe did giacioully accept of the
faid Gift of her Commons, and was come thither .
lo give- her Rr 'al Aflent to divers of ihofe Laws
which had paiit;J,,the two Houfes.'
There is no Speech entered in the Journal of
either Houfe, made by ihe Speaker at this Time ;
nor does Sir Symsnds Diwa fupply it from any other
Authority. We ate obliged to Mr. Strype howe-
ver, for bringing one to Light, from the Manu-
fcripl CoUeflions in the Burldgb Family, belong-
ing
(t) Thii Petition cf tlie Qunmgiu, with the Anfvcer on the
P«it of the Bifllgpj, mi/ ke feeji il l*rgt in Drma's Journals, Pi j.
3S7 « S'1- And for iheFHiiiDnanndHemoEftrancfi at Urgt, from
the PuritiDi thcmToes, to the Queen ami Piiiiimect, the Reader
BUT conTuk Siryft'i Anniii, in the Appenrlii to hi^ ihitd Volume j
fach over-tedioiu AfFaits being not conlJltiM with the Delign or
ttiii Hiaot;,
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172 The Parliamentary History
Cloft of the
SelTicui.
- «nEII"i"!i'<. ing, oHginaJIy, to the Lord Treafurer Burleighi
'^ 5' Whence it may be ftrongly iiiferr'd, that Serjeant-
Puckering only lent his Voice to that great StateM
man, and that the other direfted his Tongue what td
fay on the Occafion. An Art in Politics which, no
doubt, hath been praftifed many Times fince thoft
Days.
Mift Excellent Prince and Gracious ^un^
Tht Speaker's ' in " ^ '^"^ 'i^''"^ °'" "'y ''^'"B '" if^'s Plasrf-
Spt"!' ta the * J, before your moft excellent l^lajefty, an]
C^«n at the • (his Honourable Allembly of your three Eftat^,
' I did make my moft humble Submiflion and
' Requeft, upon the Knowledge of my DifabilitJ
' and Unworihinels, that I might have been fory
' born to have occupied in this Place, But fuch
« was your Majefty's gracious Opinion, as it feem-
* ed, conceived of me upon the Eltdtion of you(
' faithful and obeoient Subjetfls, the whole Codit
« monaliy of your Realm ; that I was thereWf
* directed. And as then I beft knowing muiq
« own Infufficjencies did, for my Excufe, defiij 1
* your Majefty's gracious Accepution cf thai '
* which was only in my Power ; which was qf 1
* my good Will, Diligence, and Endeavour to be 1
' beftowcd in ibis Service: Sonow, if Ifliouldnot
* acknowledge in this Place, (having here in my
* Company lb many Wiineflis againft me) thq, 1
« Multitude of Imperfeflions, that I havefoun^ 1
* in mylelf, during the l~ime of this my Scrvi&L \
' I fliould fhew myfelf to be over partial to inine
' own Caufe, and, in feme fort, to he voiif pf
* Modefty. But knowing your Majefty's accuf^
« lomed Goodnels, to accept ihe good Wills and
' Endeavoursof all Men in yourSctvices, without -
' any ftrait Regard or Account of the Events or
' Succcfles of thtirAftioBsi and tlierewfth having
* alfo had, at this Time of Seflion of Parliament^
' daily Prools of the favourable Toleration of my
' Lacks, by gcave, wife, and experimented Per-"
* fons and the good Will generally of the whole
' Body of your Cummoni towards me, id their
i
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0/ ENGLAND. 273
1^ quiet Allowance of my Service; lam the bolder, Queo
?^'ihrowing behind my Back ihefe my Lacks
' and Wants, as Things not now to be imputed
' lo me i and am to prefent myfelf in your Ma-
* jelly's Sight according to my Office, as a Perfon
* albw'd by your M<ijefty's Goodncfs only, and
* not by my Deferts ; and fo to proceed to pfefent
• to your Majefty, in the Name of all your Com-
^.rnom, Fiift, our moll humble Thanks for the
'^nefits that we have received by your Majefty's
''Permillion, to have this Allembly fo long con-
' tinued : Secondly, our like humble Requefts for
Pardon of any Thing, ivhich through Ignorance,
■'■without any Intention of Offence, iti our Con-
'■fiiltations might be, by your Majefty's great
'''Wifdorh, imputed to us. And laftiy, lam alfo,
' In their Names, to exhibit our moft humble and
^meil Petitions to your Majefty, to give Life
^to the Works not of our Hands, but of our
"Minds, Cogitations arid Hearts ; Which other-
I'wife than being lightened by the Beams of your
' Favour, fliall be bu[ vain, dumb and dead.
' ' For the firft I do confefs, that in the
' Name of all your Csmmons here afiembled,
' and fo I may prefume to add the like for
the Lords here aflembled in your Majefty's Prc-
■ fence, -^e cannot imagine, hov? your Ma-
* jefty can beftow a greater Benefit, that can de-
* ferve more Thanks of your SubjetSs univerlallyi
• than that your Majefty, as you have heretofore
' at many Times, fo now efpecially in this Time,
' when our Necefnty, for many Refpedts required
^* the fame, fummoned your whole Realm, by
■ calling your Eftates together to this Parliament,
* to confult freely, and at great Lcifure, what
* were firft meet for the Furtherance and AdVance-
'■ ment of QoJ's Service, bv which we only have
* our Being ; and what were alio neceffify fot
' the Prefervation of your Majefty's Perfon, by
* whofe long Life and Continuance We are kept
'f free from the Tyranny and Subjeflion of Foieign
— 'Ti ■ s , , . ©p-
L
274 The Parliamentary History
Oppreflion. And laftly, to devife among our-
felves, and provide not only as (hould be, both
in geneial and. particular, good and profitable
for our own Eftates, but alfo to forefee how to
avoid Things huriful to the fame ; to which
good End we do atkrowledge that, by your
Majcfty's Goodncfs and Permiflion, our Aflembly
now h»th tended. And for that Good whidi
we ate to leceive thereby, wc do yield to your
Majelly our moll humble Thanks i befeeching
God to grant to yout Majefly many happy
Years, above the Term of our Lives. That as
we have already, fo after us our Poftericy may
receive the like Benefits of your Goodncfs from
Time to Time, as Caufe (hall require; to pro-
cure to themfelves by good Laws under your
Government like Means to live in fuch Peace,
Happinefs and Wealth, as we have done, from
the Beginning of your Reign : And as our Fore-
fathers never did the like with fuch Continuance.
' Secondly, After thefe our Thinks, moll
humbly prefenied upon our Knees, we do both
in general and particular, humbly bcfeech your
Majefly to give your accuftomed gracious Inter-
pretations to all our Proceedings. Wherein if
any Speeches, Motions, or Petirions have paft
from us, that might have mifconiented your
Mnjefty in your^reai Wifdom above our Capa-
ciiiea i Icanafluie your Majefty, that in ibis Af-
lembly, wherein I was always prefeni, there
was never found in any Speech, private or pub-
lick, any Argument or Token of the Mind of
any Purfon thai thewed any Intention to be offen-
five 10 your Majefty. And for Proof hereof,
when it pleafed your Majefty to direfl me to
declare your Plealure to the Commons Houfe,
in what Sort you would they fliould ftay
any further Debaiing of the Manner of Re-
formation of lijch Things as they thought
might be reformed in the Church, I found them
aJI, gefierally and_ particularly, ready to obey
your Majefty's riealuie therein: XVhich as it
' feemod
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Of ENGLAND, lys
feemed to me, and To I have Caufe [o perruadeQ««'
with myTelf, tlicy did. For thai ii was well
underftood, that your Majcfly, as having by
God's Ordinance a Supreme Authority for that
Purpole, had lliaiiJy charged the Archbifliops,
Bifliops, and youi- whole Clergy now afletnbled
in iheir Convocitinn, lo have due R^ard to fee
to the Reformation of divers Abufes in the Go-
vernment and Difcipline of the Church. And
fo our firm Hope is, that your Majefty will, by.
your ftrait Commandment to your CIergy» con-
tinue your Care to fee, and command, that fuch
Abules as are crept into the Church by the Neg-
ligence of'thc Minifters, may be fpecdily leform*
ed, to the Honour of Almighty God, and to
your own immortal Praife, and Comfort of
your Subjeds.
' The next Matter whereof I have to fper-k, is
/noft humbly to rcqueft your Majefty to yield
your Royal AfTent to fuch PetiiU/ii, both general
'Jind particular, as have been upon long Delibera-
tion deiermined and conceived in Writing, with
uniform Content of the Lords Spiritual and
Temporal, and us your Cv/moni, in this your
j*arliament allemhled. Wherein your Majefty
_fllall do no lefs than pertaineth to the Authority
jWhich you have like to God Almighty : Who
^_as he giveih Life and Being lo all his Creatures,
'great and fmall, fo your Majefty flwU give Life
,and Continuance to the Fruits of our Confulta-
lions, as well to the fmall as to ihe great.
Without which your Royal AHent with your
own Breath, the fame (h^ll become without Life
_and Scnfe, anJ all our Labours therein loft,
and our Expeftations therein m:ide fruftiate.
And tho' ill youi Majefty'i princely Sight many
of thole our Petitions miiy feem to be oi mean
"Value, either becaufe they be, fome of them,
particular ; or becaufe the Matters of fome of
them may feem lo be of low and b^fe Degree ;
Tfei confldering of ihem to whom they belong,
F the f^me are of as great Importance and Benefit,
Si ' •!
Qgeen Elizabeth.
1585.
Q76 7he Parliamentary History
as to greater Eftates greater Matters are : And
the Lack of the Benefits which to them may
grow thereby, (hall be as grievous, as the Lack
of greater in greater Bodies : And as in every
natural Body, the meanefl: Parts and Members
are by the Head regarded as beneficial, for on^
Means or other, to the reft of the whole Body :
So we with all Humblenefs, in the Name of the
whole Body, do befeech your Majefty, as our
only Head, and Fountain of our Life, to accept
the meaneft Petitions for the Comforts of the
Parts of the Body, to whom the fame may be-
long : As we know your Majefty, of your Cle-
mency, is accuftomed with your moft gracious
Eyes and Countenance, to comfort daily your
bafeft and pooreft Subjects, ieeking Relief at
your Feet.
' Next to this we do offer to your Majefty with
our whole Hearts, our Bodies and Lives,, to be
ferviccable to the Safety of your Majefty 's .noble
Perfon. For Defence whereof, and for Revenge
of any Aft imaginate agarnft your Majefty, we
have by a Form of Law, if it fhall like your
Majefty to aflent thereto, given a Teftimony to
the whole World, how dear the Safety of your
Uii^ is to us. A nd this I do aflure your Majefty^
that Ve, your moft loving Subjedls, w^rc js\q&.
willmg to have extended this Ordinance to a far
ftraiter Courfe, as we thought the fame meet
for your Safetv, and for terrifying of all Perfons '
not well- willmg to youj" if oiherwife we had
not underftood, that your Majefty *s Pleafure
was, tbat it fhould not be extended to any ftraiter
Points than rr rs.
*• And as your Majefly hath a manifeft Dcmon-
ftration hereby of our Hearts and Minds, fo alfo
we have added (for a fiifthcr outward Dedara--
tion thereof by our Deeds, offered to your Ma*
jefty of our voluntary Mihdsj a fmall' Portion
-out of thofe Wordly Goods which God hath
given us, and by the long Peace under your
blefled Government we have encrcafed; by
• • f Way
4 ,.
0/ E N G L A N D. 277
• Way of a Subfidy, and two Fifteenrhs, to be uied Qs"
• by your Majefty, as in former Times you have
' alwaysiione, for the Defence of this your Realm,
' and us your humble Subjeds. Which tho' wc
• know (hall noE amount to the Value that percafe
• fhall be needful for ihe Defence of your Realms,
• Dominions and Subjefts, againft all Attempts
• that may be miniftred by the Enemies of God,
• and of your Majefty ; yet your Majefty may
• make an aflureii Account, that befides this our
• Offer, you cannot lack a further Supply of the
• reft that we have, to be fpent, or committed to
• your Direction, as Cnufe [hall require.
' Laftly, Upon our Knees we do moft humbly
• yield our hearty Thanks for your moft gracious
• and free general Pardon : Whereby a great Mul-
' titude of your Subjefls are to be relieved of divers
• Pains and Penalties; which by the Older of
' your Laws your Majefty might moft juftly have
• inflifled upon ihem- By which your Clemency
• we all fhal! take OccaJion, beiides our Thaokful-
• nefs for fo great a Benefit, to endeavour our-
• fclves more carefully to obferve your Laws,
• both to the Honour of God, and to the Comfor:
• of your M;ijefty ; and, finally to the Mainte-
• nance of Peace, Tran(juili[y and Concord among
• ourfelves."
The Royal AiTent being given to thirty Public
Adsand ihirieeti Private, her Majefty, in Perfon,
made the following Speech to both Houfes of Par-
liament (f J.
My Lords and ye of the Lower Houfe,
IT Sihnie mujl not injure the Owner fi '"uch^rhe Quew'g
fli to juppofe a Subjfitute fuffident to rtnder^f"^^ >t pro-
■i the Ihanh tUt my Htm yieldeth you, «*'^Km/'"''"'
muih for the fafe Keeping of my Life, for whuh
your Care apptan fi manifefti as for the Negleifitig
I yettr private future Pei it, Jiat regarding otbsr way
than my prejint Stale.
S3 No
(<) Qmtdm in Apfrndiri, P»(. 670, Slrtct'i Cbnn, Pag. 70*.
"•uia, jsl, {ItliiKgjhraJ, Pig, 134S, &c.
M'
2.78 TheTarHameutaryHisroKr
^"iSs?^"^' iV^ Prince herein, I confef$, can be furer tied or
f after bound than I am with the Link of your Good-
frilly and can for that bui yield a Heart and a
Head to feek for ever air your befi ; yet one Matter
tmcbeth me fo hear^ as I may net Gverfkipy Religion^
the Ground on which all other Matters ought to take
Root J and being corrupted, may marr all the Tree.
And that there be fome Fault-finders with the Order
of the Clergy y which fo may make a Slander t$ my-
felf and the Church, whofe over-Ruler God batb
made me \ whofe Negligence cannot be excufed^ "if any
Schifms or Errors heretical were fuffered. 2hus
much I mufi fay^ that fome Faults and NegUgences
moy grow and be, as in all other great Charges it
happeneth, and what Vocation without ? All which
if yeu my Lords of the Clergy do not amende I mean
to depofe you. Look ye therefore well fo your Charges.
This may be amended without heedlejs or open Excla^
motions. I am fuppofed to have many Studies, hit
moft Philofophicat. I nfuft yield this to be tfue^ that
JJitppofe few (that be no Profeffors) have read more.
And 1 need not teH you^ that I am fo fimple . that
I underfland not^ nor fo forgetful that I remember
not\ and yet amidft my many vohmes^ I hc^e God^s
JBook batb not been my feldomefi Le^ures, in ^vbicb
%V9 find that which by Reajon (for my Part) we
ought to believe ; that feeing fo great PFickednefi and
Greeves in the World in which we live^ but as Way-
faring Pilgrims^ we mufl fufpofe that God would ne-
ver have made us but for a better Place^ and of more
Comfort than w^ find here, I know no Creature
that 'breatheth^ whofe Life flandeth hourly in more
Peril for it than mine own^ who entrid not into my
State without Sight of manifold Dangers of Life and
. Crown^ as one that had the mightieft andgreatefi to
wreflfe with. Then it foUoweth that I regarded it
fo mucbf as I left my Life behind my Care \ and fo
you fee that you wrong me too much {If any /uch there
be.) as doubt my CoUnefs in that Behalf; for if I
were not pfrfuaded that mine were the true Way of
• . Qofs JVttU Q^d forbid that I fhould live to prefcribe
•
0/ E N G L A N D. 179
tt la ym. Take ym heed lift Ecclefiaftes _^_y '""oMer
tea true. They iliat fear the hoary Froft, the Sdow
Ihali fall upon them. I fie many ever-bold with •
Gad Mmighty, mjiing toa many Jitbtle Scannings ef
his bieffed fflH, as Lawyen da with human Tijia-
ments. The Prefumption is /o grsat, as / may not
j^ffff ii (yet mind I net lirely te animate Romanifts,
vhith what Advtrfur'm they be tt mint Efiate, is
pffidtntly known) nur tolerate New-fanglednefs. /
vtfan te guide them bslh by Gad's holy true Rule. In
both Pattshe Perils; and ef the latter I muji pia-
ncuttte them dangerous to a Kingly Rule, to have
tviry Man according to his own Cenfurt to make a
Doom of the l-'alidity and Privity of his Prince's
GevMrnment, with a camman Veil and Cover of God's
ff^rd, whofe Followers mull not be judged hut by pri'
vote Men's Expo/ition. God defend you fiam fucb
a Ruler that fo evil will guide you. Now I con-
ehdde that your Love and Care neither is nor Jhall
he btftawed upon a earelefs Prince, but futh as hut
fat: your Good-iyill pafjhh as little far this IVarla as
who lareth leaf, with thanks for your free Sub/idy,
a-manif^Shew of the Abundance of your Good Wills,
the which I qffiire you but to be emplaned to your
Weal, I could be betttr pleafid to return than
receive^
After this Speech was ended, her Majefty, in
Perfon, prorog,ued this Parliament to ihezoihDay
of May next enfuing.
We have now another (horter String of Proro-
gations before us, which continued til! this Parlia-
ment was diifolved. From the laft mentioned
Date, it was again prorogued, at fix different
Times, without any inietvening Sefiion, to the
li^tb of September.
Accordingly on that Day, the Parliament being
met, it is entered in the Journals of the Lords, that
whereas this prefent Parliament flood prott^ued to
'he faid i^th of Stpfe'iiber, yet the Queen by the
Advise of h?r Privy -Cauncil, many great and ur-
gem
1
J
ma
» a8o ThBTnrlhimentary Histori,
QwenKiabrth S^^"* Caufes occafioning it (d), had given her Lei-
jsSj. lers Patents, diretled to Sir Thomas Bremley Ki.
Chaticelior of England, and others htx Commif-
iionew to dilfolye this Pailiamenl. Which Letters
The ParliiBient Paient being read in the Hoiife, the Lord Chan-
i\myti. ^p[,pr declared it.lo bediflblred accordingly.
The Reader may obferve that, in the Proceedings
of the lall ScfTion of Parliament, an Apciatien is
mentioned to be confirmed by an Ait pafled for
that Piirpofe. This Invention of AJJociaiingva, by
Cambden, appropriated to the Politics of Dudley^
Earl of Leicefltr. Rumours, fays he, were fpread
every where, of great Dangers, wicked Defigns
and treacherous Practices againft the Queen and
Slate. By which, the politic Eail drew in Men of
al! Degrees and Conditions, throughout England,
to bind themfelves, in an jfj/kiathn, by mutual
Vow3, Subfcriptions and Seals, to profecute'to
Death, as far as lay in their Power, all ihofe that
fhould attempt any Thing againft the Queen (t).
The unhappy Queen of Seals, adds our Autho-
The Pro«Mding! tity, cafily faA- that her Deftrudlion was, chiefly^
sesir-ntheOgftnaimed at by this JJpciatisn. To prevent the fatal
efScotsKVivcd, jgg^ of ij^ Qj^ jjjgjj. j,g^ ]^(]. propofals [o the
Englijh Queen, for an Accommodation between
them. Thefe Articles were fo condefcending and
modeft, ihal Elizabeth is f^id to be fo far moved
by them, that it was really believed fhe purpofed
tofet her at Liberty. Bur, crafty Counfcllora ai
Home, who were perpetually laying new Fears
before her, and the faijlious Stois, with their Re-
prefeniaiions, prevented it. Thefe k\ft, urged
itrongly, * That there was no Hopes of Queen
* Elizaietii'3 Siikiy; if their Queen was fet at Li-
* berry. That both Kingdoms were undone if
* flie was admitted to be Partner with her Son in
* the Kingdom. That the true Religion in Bfi-
* icifi was ruined, if fhe was to be allowed the
*■ Exercifeof the Rorirjh Religion, though it wa;
* hul V(i\\nn the Court- Walls.*
Thefe
(rf) iWiWi'mi graviBlmif^t Caafn ir^ifiiHitntiiy!, it Nr^riiiis iia
(t; i,ambtin in Kama, Pag. 499.
Of E N G L A N D. 281
Thefe Remonftrances from the Queen of S«"QMeenHlii>tritl
own Subjedts, chiefly, fomented by a Set ot hot- >s^S-
headed enthufiaftial Preachers amongft them, gave
the EngHJh Government a fomewhat better Pretext
to keep her imprifoned. In which Condition fhe
continued to the Year, i;86, when a bold Con-
fpiracy was fet on Foot to dehver her ; the Ori-
ginal and Progrefs of which we (hall leave to
Cambden and our larger Hiftorians: It is, only, ne-
ceilary here to obferve, that this Con fpiracy proved
fatal to the poor QLieen, and drew in an EngUjh Par-
liament to vole her Deftruftion. She was tried by a she is ,,it4 b„ ,
Committee of Lords, and oi'ners, fent down to Ft- Committee of
f^r/wf % Caftle for thatPurpofe; and though flieW'- ^""^
made a noble and a bold Defence, offering to refer rf'S^hT"""
her Cauie to a ful! Engtijh Parliament, fhe was
foundguilty and received Sentence accordingly.
The Subftance of which Trial will appear in the
Proceedings of the next Parhament. But it is
neceflary to take Notice, here, that a Declaration
was publi{hed, the fame Day the Sentence was
given, by the CommilTioners and the Judges, That
thefai/l Senlente did mtMng derogate from James
King «f Scots, m his Title and Honnur ; but that
he- was in the fame Place, Degree and Right, as if
the faid Sentence had never been pronaunced.
Writs were fent out to call a new Parliament, _ .
to meet at mjiminpr, the isih Day of Oaobir, ,;S6^' '^'
in the 28tb Year of this Reign. From that Day, Ai Wrftniinfttr.
Jiir divers good Caufes and Coiifiderations, the Par-
liament was prorogued to the syih, and from
thence to the 29ih of the fame Month (f). On
which Day the whole Body of Lords and Com-
mons being alTemhled, in the Houfe of Peers, ex-
pefting the Coming of the Queen, the Lord Chan-
cellor informed them, that great and urgent Bufi-
nefa prevented her Majefty from being prefentjTht Pirliunent
but that (he had by her Letters Patents, conftitu- "pcnsd by com-
led and appointeij the Moft Reverend Father in """''"'
Chryi,
(F) Sentence wa!, only, given agjinft the Qneea of &.'i, on the
35tn of this Mnnth, fo tiuc ihcfc Jhort Proroptions were made [ill
(bit Tiyal w» over.
2 8 3 The Tarliamcntary H i s T o a t '
QijefoElinbetli. CMV?, yci" Arclibifliopof Canterbury ; IVilliam
'J"- C«;7, I.ord Burleigh, Lord High-Treafurer of
England ; and Henry, Eail of Derby, Lord High-
Steward, her Mdiefty's Comininiorers; in b^ .
Name, to hold and do every Thing thai was m
celiary for her in ihis prefent Parliament, Whiq^^
LeCiers Patents being, openly, read in the Houft|
the laid three Lord Cominiflioners left itieir owr^^
Seals and went tu a Seat prepared for ihcm, on q|
Riglit-fide of the Chair ot Stale, beneath lhcSteH|
Then the Lord Chancellor, after going firft to iq
Idtd Lords and conferring with them, (rom his aa^
turtomed Place fpoke lo the Hobles to this Efic^
The Lord Chin- ' That ihe preienc Parliament was fumnione^
erflor'i Speed), ' for no ufual Caufes } not for making of ne^f
* Laws, whereof her Majefty thought there we^
* more made than executed j nor for Subfuliei aaf.
' Fifieenibi, of which, although there was lb;q
' Occalion for them, yet her M;yelly would ng
' charge her loving Subjects, at this Time;
' the Caufe was rare and exiraordinatyj otgrf^
* Weight, great Peril, and dangerous Confequcnca^
' He then declared what Dangers had been caA
' irivedoflaie, and how miraculoufly the mercifB
' Providenceof God, by the Difcovery thereof b^
' yond all Human Policy, had prelerved her Mif
' jefty. The Deftruttion of whofe Sacied Perif
* Ion was moft traitoroully imagined and deligr
* ned to becompafled.' ,,.
He then fliewed, ' what Mifery the Lo(s of %
' noble a Queen wouldhave brought loallEllateai;
* thai ahhuugh fome of thefe Traitors had fuffere^'
' according to their Demerits, yet one remained*
' that by due Courfe of Law had received her Sco-t
' lencc ; which was the chief Caufe of this Aflein>>
' bly, and wherein her Majefly required ihetr faith-
^^^ * ful Advice. Wherefore, fa id he, that you Qiay
, ■o'i'J ' ufually and orderly proceed herein, you of th«
m ' Commor.sHoufe, arc to make prefent Choice of
K' ' fome one amongfl you lu be your Speaker, and
^t ' prefeni: to the Lords-Lieurenanis as foon as con-'!
^fc^^^ ' vepiently you may.' After which the Clerk of
^^K Fai-
0/ E N G L A N D. 285
Parliament read the Names of thofe who were Qjj„[
appointed to receive and iry the Petitions offer-
ed to this Parliament ; anJ then the Lords-Lieu-
lenatits adjourned it to Monday ncxr.
It is eary to guefs the Reafon that the Queen came
not 10 the Houfe was an affefted Tendernefe in her, :
to fit in Judgment, as it were, on the Life of lb , , . _j
neara Relation. Although Camhden obferves, that -^^cjB 1
appointing Commiflioners to afl in her Name was '
not without Precedent.
On Monday, the laft Day of OBabtr, the Com- John Puckerini, '
mons prefenlcd to the Lords-Lieuienants fahn^^v, f^^fA
Futhring, Efq; Serjeant at Law, as their Speak- ^'*''''""
er J who, with the ufual Forms, was admitted by
them, which was all that was done thai Day ; and
then the Houfe was adjourned to Friday, Nivember
the 4tii. On whichDayalfo, nothing is entered
in ihc Journals.
But, the next Day the Bufirels began. The
Lord Chancellor made another Speech to the Lords,
in which he fct forth the foul and indilcreet Deal-
ing, praftifed by the Queen of Scots, againft her
Majedy and the whole Realm j notwithftanding
the many'great Benefits and Favours which the faid
- Queen ofS«/J had received of her Majefty. Af-
ter the Chancellor had ended, JVilliam Lord Bur-
liigh. Lord Treafurer, ftood up ; and, aa one unto
whom the whole Proceedings of the faid Queen of
5«W were better known, becaufe of his long Ser-
vices to his Mod Gracious Sovereign Lady, ever
lince the Beginning of her Reign, related them, at
large to the Houfe. Which two Speeches made
the whole Bufmefs of that D-iy.
To malcc the Proceedings of this Parliament,
againft this unhappy Queen, more intelligible to our
Readers, we lliall join thofe of the Lords and
Commons together. And, we are told, in the
Jaurnah of the latter, lliat. on November the 3d,
whilll a private Bill was reading, and one Mem-
ber offering to fpeak to it, Mi Vice Chamberlain,
• Sir Chriftipher Hatton, ftoud up and told the
Houfe, ' That having MaLter olmofl: great Im-
portance
T
1S4 Tbe ^Parliamentary HisTort.
<tB««nI]itibtih. ponance 10 deliver unto ihis Houfe, from her Ma-
15S6. jcfty, he was To bold, with iheit good Favours, for
this Time to interrupt the Speech intended by
the Gentlemen that offered to (peak Jo the ■
. faid Bill And then fhewed, that her Majc-
H«ton^°^.".fty 'linking that all thofc of this Houfe, which were .
ChargtiEdnfttho lately ill the Higher Houfe when the Lord Chao-
Q««nofScots. cellor declared the Caufe of her Highnels'a fum*;
motiingof ihisParliaraent, coiild not hear the [amcj
and aifo that many of the Members of this Houfd
now here prefent, were not then come up or retur-
ned ; commanded him to deliver unto this Houft
the Summary Caiife of her Majefty's Calling an4
Affembling ofihis great CounLil at this Time 1
which was (he faidj not to maVe any more Laws,
as being many more already ihan wtll executed 1
nor yet any Su/i/idy, albeit, if need fo reijuircd, the
fame were convenient enough to be done ; but
(faid he) to confult for luch Maaers as the like
wer? never almoft heard cf, noi any Parliament
called for, in former Time, that can be found,
or read of. And fo lery excellently, plainly, an4
efFedually, made Relation of the hornhle and wic-
ked Praftices, and Attempts, caufed and procure^ ,
by the Qv^ecn of Seals , fo called ; meerly tending ra
the Ruin and Overthrow of ihe rrue and lincerc
Religion eftabliflied in this Realm ; the InvalioTi of
Ihis Realm by Foreign Forces i Rebellion and Ci-
vil Wars, and Di1'entioi;s within this Realm.
Yea, and wiibal (which his Heart quaked and trem-
bled to uticr and think on) the Deaih and Deftruc-
tion of the Moft Sacred Perlon of our Moll Gra-
cious Sovereign Lady the Qiieen's Majefty j to the
, litter Defolation and Conqueft of ihis Moft Noble
Realm of England. And lo difcouriing of the Mat-
ter, an,d the great, execrable Treacheries and Con-
fpiracies of the faid i^'een of S'lsts^ even from the
firft to the la(t, in Particutaritic; very amply and cf*
feftually [fuch of ihcm, at the leall, as have been
hitherto difcovered) (hewing alfo, very manifeflljr |
and evidently, the Proof? and all other Circum- '
Usances of the fame Treachery and Confpiracies 4
ani
Of ENGLAND, aSi
and fo ihinketh good, for his ParD, [hat fpeedyQuBrnHiirtaj.
Confuliaiion be had by ihis Houfe for the Cmiing »s8e.
of her off by Courfe o( Juftice ; for thai olherwife
our faid Sovereign Lady, the Queen's Majefty's
Moll Royal Perfon, cmnoibe continued with Safe-
ty j concluding with this Sentence,
' Nepireat\ins\,pireat Abfolon.'
This Speech was feconded by the Chancellor
of the Exchequer, the Chancellor of che Duchy,
and Mr Secretary If'eoly; who all fpoke, at large,
to the fame Point ; reciting the horrible Trealbns
and Confpiracies, caufcd and procured by the faid
Queen of S«/j. Which Speeches being ended, the l",^"
Houfe refolved to rcfume the Affair oa the Mor-
row.
Accordingly, on the next Day, the Houfe being
reminded, by the Speaker, of going upon the GrcoK
Caufc-, as iney termed it, feveral more Speeches
Were made by other Minilters of State ; as, alfo,
by Sir fVilliam Herbert, Si\! Thsmoi Salt ^yii Fran-
tis Bacen, Mr J/fard, Mr ThrogmOrlBn, Mr Bar-
ker, Mr Dalton, Mr Btiyabrigg^ and Mr SollJcitor ;
all Vehement againft the Queen of Scots^ charging
her with ireafonable Pnidices againft the Life of
the Queen, and procuring a Foreign Invalion to
further thofe Attempts, Concluding, that fuch
Prafliccs could ncverbe prevented hereafter, unleis
the laid Scsttijh Queen did prefently fuffer the Ex- \
ccution due to julticeand her Deferts.
It was then moved that a Committee fliould be
appointed to confider of a Petition to her Majefly,
to that Purpofe, and, alfo, to rcqueft the Lords, if
they thought guod, to join with them in it. Ac-
cordingly, a Commiitte was appointed of all the
Privy-Council belonging to that Houle, and forty-
four other Members. There is an Entry made
in this Journal oi the Conclufion of a Speech, faid
to be fpoke by one Mr Geerge MsDre, who averred,
*" That only Pepiry is the thief and principal Root
* of all the late horrible and wicked Treacheries
* and Prailices, and the Qyeen of Sm^ a principal
BrAHch.
t
1 %6 The Tiirliamentary H i stor y
•h.* Branch, ifluing from the fame Root, and the
* molt peiillous and full ofPoifon of all the other
* Branche.'!; for that the Papi/h, in very deed, for
* the moft Part, not knowing ihe Perlon ofthe
' laidQjteen oi Scots, do wifh the EJiablrfhing of
* her in ilie Crown of this Realm, rather in re-
* fpefl; of Piipiry, fwhich fhe would fet up) than
* for any Afftdion tliey bear to her Perfon ; and
* fo likewife, for the moll Part, all of them either
' wifli or could eafily bear the Death of our Sove-
' reign Lady ihe Queen's Majefty, though, pcr-
* haps, they would not ihew iheinfeU'es to be Ac-
' tors or Dealers therein.' He therefore moveth,
' That it may be joined in the Petition for the
' Great Caufe ; That her Majefty may be moved
* to retain no Servants about her Highnels's Perfon,.
' but fuch only as may be well known both to pro-
* fels the true and fincere Religion, and alfo to be
' every Way true and faithful SubjeiSts.' And
hirther ' That the Laws already in Force againft
' Papifls may be put in due Execution'.
'Thefe Speeches beingended, Mr Speaker fhewed,
that the faid Motion, or any other, tending to
the Safety of her Majefty's Perfon, may be very
well delivered and remembred to the Committees
in the Great Ceuje, by any Member ofthe Houfe.'
Navtmbtr the 7th. Whilfl the Lords were de-
bating the Matierof the Queen of ScuH^ theCom-
mons came up, and defired a Conference with feme
of their Lordfhips, wh;ir Number they fliouU
pleafe to appoint, about the Affair of the Sattijh
Queen, which had been opened to them. Where-
upon, the Lords appointed the ArchWHiops of Cari'
itrbury and JiiTif, the Lord Treaforer, the Lord
Stfward ; the Earls of Nmbumberland, Kent, Rut-
Itind, and SuJ/ex ; rhc Bifliops of /.^nrfffn, Durham,
mnchfjler, and tVi^nrfter ; the lord-Admiral,
the Lord-Chamberlain i the hoids- Cttkafn^Grty,
Lumleyy Ghandsis, Bacthurjl, De la (fare, and
Narris, for the Conference. The Place of Meet-
ing was the outward Parlisment-Chdmbcr, at Two
in the Aflemoon. There was, alfo, appointed to .
attend
0/ E N G L A N D. 287
attend the faid Lords, the Lord Chief- J uftice of the „^
Common-Pleas, the Chief-Baron, and Mr Juftice
G audit.
The next Day nothing was done in that Houfe ;
but the Day fulbwing, My. gih, fcveral Letters
were read, as we!I from Anthony Babington to llje
Queen of Scsts, as from her to him. Char Us Tegitt^
and others. The Sentence pronounced by the
Commiffioners, againft the Scsti Qijecn, was a!fo
read. And a Form of a Peiition agieed upon by
the Commir tees of both Houfes.
November loih. This Day the Lortis of the
Commirtee made Report to the whole Houfe,
TTiat thofe of liic Commons, upon hearing of the
Sentence, and divers of the Special Evidences and
Proofs, on which the Sentence was grounded,
openly read unto ihem, after long Deliberation and
Conlideraiion had betwixt them, both puhlickly and
privately, they all, with one AfTeni, allowed the
faid Sentence to be juft, true, and honourable ; and
that the Commons humbly defited their Lordfhipj
to make Choice of fuch Numbei of Lords as ihey
fhbuld think meet to join with them in petitioning
her Majefty. Whereupon, the Lords made Choice
of the following, mj:;: the Lord Chancellor, the
Lord Treafurer, the Lord Great Chamberlain, the
Lord Steward ; the Earls ot Nmhumberknd, Kent,
Rutland, Suffix, Pmireie, and Hertford ; the Lord
High-Admiral and the Lords Abergavemiy, Zouch,
Morley, Cobham, Grey, Lutnley, Chandsss, Buckhurji,
De la IP'are, and N^rris.
Memsrandum. The Commons made a Re-
queft to have the Petition airentcd iinto by both ihc
Houfes, tobe enrolled in the Rolls of Parliament ;
which their Lordfhips thought better to defer, until
her Majefty 's Liking or Dilliking of it was tittt haJ
of the (ame.
The fame Day the Houft of Lord^ was ad-
journed to November 15th, to ftive Time, wc
fuppofe, for ihe Petition to be prelenred. From the
laft- mentioned Day, it was adjourned ugain to Sd-
turday^ the iqth, and from ihcnce, cncc more, to
the
'The Parliamentary Historit
rQueenlliubeihthe 22d of the fame Month, without any .thing
•s86. being entered in their "Jaurnais.
In this Time, the Petition was prefented to thtf
Qiieen by the faid Comniitlee of Lords, and the
Members of the Houle of CommDns, who were,
of the Privy- Council, with as many more of"
that Body as lo make up the Number of forty-
two- Saturday, the nth of Novimbsrt was-
the Day appointed by the Queen lo receive it i^
when the Lord Chancellor, in the Name oflhs'
Lords, and on Behslf of the Commons, declared
unto her Majefty, That both Houfes, after manjr^
Conferences, and long Confullations, had concludrt *
to be humble Suitors to her Majeiiy, by Wayof>
Petition i the Effeft whereof was declared, a^4
length, unto her, by the Orators aforefaiJ, and thof"'
Petition, itfelf, delivered to her Majefty in Wn* ■
The jQUi-Tialift halh given us, from an authcn-'
tic Copy of his own, a Series of Notes, Which, be
fays, were made Ufe of by the Speaker, in his O- ■
ration to the Queen, on this Occafion. Which*
for fear of making this Matter too tedious, we pur-.
pofely omit (£). In it the Orator difplayed mow
of the Siatefnian and Lawyer, than of the Chrif-
, "* lian. But we haften to the Words of the Peti-?'
tion itfelf ; which, with the Anfwer to it, ata
both preferved by the Htfiorian of this Reign i
the latter being only fumm^i ily mentioned in the
'Jeurnah.
Mdyit pleafe your Moft Excellent MajeJ}}^ aur MbJI
Graciaus Sovereigti^
A '.iint p<^i;ii>.n ' A^tT"^' ^'"^' humble, loving, add faithful
fnm"'ti.e'' ilral ' V V Subje£ts, the Lords and Commons in- *
XDd CLmmcin!, ' this ptcfent Parliament aflsmbled, having of longi ,j
F,-r„.|.t T'jfne^ tQ our intolerable Grief, feen by how ma-, I
■"' nifold, moft dRngerous, and execrable PraflJces, *
' Maty, Daughter and Heir of Jamu V. late
' King of Smtii Dowager of France^ coiBtlionly
fe) D-r-^'.
A
r
0/ ENGLAND.
.Sy
* called the Queen of Scots, hath compafled thcQ^^^j
' Deftruflion of your Mnjelly's MoA Sacred and i
* RoynlPerfon; in ivliofc Safely (next under God)
' our chief and only Kelidiy doih conlift : And
* thereby not only to bereave us of the Sincere and
* True Religion of Almighty God, bringing us
* and this noble Crown back again into the Thral-
' dom of the Ramijh Tyranny ; but alfo utterly
* to ruinate and overlhrow the happy State and
* Commonwealth of this Moft Noble Realm.
' Which being, from Time to Time, by the great
' Mercy and Providence of God, and your High-
* nefs's lingular Wifdoin, foreleen and prevented j
your Majefty, of your exceeding grtat Clemency,
4nd princely Magnanimity, hath moft gracioufly
pafled over, (although often and inftanily moved
by your moft loving and faithful Subjects, to the
* contrary, in Times, in your Parliaments, and at
' many other Times) and haih alio protcded and
' defended the faid Sconijh Queen from thofe great
' Dangers, which her own PeL>p!e, for certain
' dcteft^ble Crimes and grievous Oft'ences to her
* imputed, hath determined agaJnft her. All which
* notwithftanding, the faid Queen was nothing
f moved withthcfe and many other your Majefty 's
p-moft gracious Favours toward her ; but rather
^'bbdurate in Malice, and, by Hope of continual
' Impunity, imbolden'd to profecute her cruel and
* mifchievous Determination, by fonie fpecdy and
* violent Courfe; and now lately a very Dangerous
y Plot, being conceived and let down by /^n/isnr
* Babingtm and others. That fix defperate and
* wicked Peifons ihould undertake that wicked
and moft horrible Entcrprze, to take away
* your Majefty's Life, (whom God, of hisinfi-
'bitc Mercy, long pre(ervc) ihe did not only give
her Adviceand Direction upon every Point, and
all Circumftances concerning the fame; and make
eaineft Requeft to have itperform'd with ail Di-
lij^ence ; but did alfo p cmife Aflurance of large
Reward and Recompence to the Doers thereof.
Vol. IV. T WhicH
I
1
ajjo The Tarliamentary H i stort
1. ' Which being inform'd to your Majeily, it pleaf-
' ed your Highnefs, upon the earnell Suit ot fuch
' as [endeted the Safety of your Royal Perfon, and
' the good and quiet State of this Realm, to diredt
* your Commimoii, under the Great Sea! of Eng-
' \a)id, to the Lords and others ot" your Highnefs's
* Privy-Council, and certain other Lords of Par-
* liament, ot the greateft and moft antient Degree,
* with !bme of your principal Judges, to examine,
* hear, and determine the fame Caufe ; and there-
' upon lo give Sentence or Judgment, according
' to a Statuic in that Behalf made, in the iwenty-
' feventh Year of your moil gracious Reign,
* By virtue whereof, the more Part of the fame
' Commiflioners, being in Number thirty-fix,
* having at fundry Times fully heard what was al-
* [edged and proved againft the faid Siottijh Queen,
* in her own Prefence, touching the faid Crimes
' and Otftnces, and what (he could fay for her
* Defence and Excufe therein -, did, af[er long
' Deliberation, give their Sentence and Judgment,
■ . * with one Coiifent, That the Death and Deftruc-
"^' tion of your Royal PtrloH, was imagined and
* compafled by the faid Anthony Babinglgn^ with
' the Privity of the faid Sceltijfj Queen ; and that
' fhe did alfo compafs and imagine the Death and
* DeitrudtionofyourMoft Royal Perfon. Now,
' forafmuch as we, your Majefty's moft humble,
* ioyal and dutiful Subjeds, tcprefeniing unto your
* Moft Excellent M.ijcfty, the univerfa! Stale of
* your whole People of M Degrees in this your
* Realm, do veil perceive, and are fully fatisfied,
» that the iV.me Sentence and Judgment is in all
' Things molt honourable, juil and lawful ; an.d
* havin;^ carefully and eff> dually, according looiir
' moft boundcn Duties, weighed and conlidered,
' upon what Ground and Caufe, fo many iraitcr-
* ous and dangerous Practices, againll your Moft
* Royal Perfon and Eilatc, and lor the Invading of
* iliis Realm, have, fori he Space of many Years
' paft, grown and proceeded ; do certainly find,
,' and are undoubtedly pcrfuadcd, that ali [he lame
' have
f Of E N G L A N D. 291
• have been, from Time to Time, atiempled and QuEcnEiiiiteib.
* prsdiled by and from the Siotti/h Q_.een, and ,536.
' by her Confederates, Minifters, and Favourers j
t* who conceive an ali'urcd Hope to aichieve fpee-
F'^ily, by your Majefty's uniimely Death, that
f-which they have long cxpefled, and whereof,
' during your Life, fwhich God long preferve, to
* our ineiiirnable Comfort) they defpair ; to wit, 10
* place her, the faid &cotti/h Queen, in the Impe-
'* rial and Kingly Seat of this Realm, and by her
' to banilTi and dcftroy the Profeflbrs and Profef-
* finii of the True Religion o{ Je/us Chri/ly and tlie
* antient Nobility of this Land i and to bring this
* whole Stale and Commonweal lo Foreign Sub-
* jeflion, and utter Ruin and Confufion ; which
r iheir malicious and traiierous Purpofe they will
» never ceafe to prcfecute, by all poifible Means
t they can, fo long as they may have their Eyes and
f Imaginations fixed upon that Lady, the only
'Ground of theirtreafonable Hope and Conceiis,
I and the only Seed Plot of all dangerous and trai-
' teroiis Dcvkts and Pradlices, againft your S;icred
B? Perfon. And feeing alfo what inlblent Boldnela
7 is grown in the Heart of the fame Queeni through
r your Majefty's former exceeding Favours to-
^ wards her i and thereupon weighing, with hea-
■EI*' vy and forrowful Hearts, in what continual Pe-
r*" ril in fuch-like defperate Confpiracies and Prac-
* tices, your Majefty's Moft Royal and Sacred
' Perfon and Life fmoiedear unto us than our
* own) is and ihall be ftill, without any poffible
■ Means to prevent it, fo long as the faid Stottijh
* Queen (hall be fuffered tocontinue, and fliall not
* receive that due Punifiiment, which, by Juftice
* and the Liws of thi? your Realm, (he hath, fo
' often, and fo many Ways, for her moft wicked
' and deieftablc Ofienccs, deferved: Therefore,
* and for that we tind, that if the faid Lady (hall
* now elcapcthe due and deferved Punifliment of
' Death for tiiefe her moft execrable Treafons and
* OiFences \ your Highnefs'a Royal Perfon flwll
* be cxpofed unto many more, and thofe more
T a ' fccrei
apa VxTarliamentary Histori
QscenEh^mb.* tecTCt xoA (Uogieiouf Cooipuadcs, than before ;
1 5B6, * aDd fuch IS uoli Doi, til cuDoi, be kwefaen or
* dilcotrcrediasthcCebeTUte Ancnptsfa
' and (hall not benafter be fo wdlafa'
' Kay ibe Grouod aod Occafitoi of t
' now, by Juiticei may and ought t
* We io moH buinbly beieedi your B'
* kntMajefty, ihai, aswelliniefp "
* tinuaDce of the True RcligiOD n
' niorgftut, and of ibeSaferyofyour b
* PctIod and Elbtc.as in tegarci of ihe P
* onandDn^iceof usyourMoftLovmgjDudl
* and Fahhfut Subjects, and the whole Comm
' Wealth of this Realm, il may pieafe youi V
* nefs to take ifccdy Order, That Deck
' the fame Seinence and Jtjdgnier.t be i
* publUh'd by Proclamaiian, and that l
' Direflion be given for ftiriha Proccc "
* the laid Saitijb Queen, atcoiding 1
* and true Meaning of the laid S;aiiiii
* upon ad viied and great Contul'.ation, vrec
* 6nd that there is any pofIi5le Means to |
' for your Majefty's Safely, but by ibe jt _
* fpeedy Execution of Che laid Queen, the Neg
* ting whereof may pioaire the heavy Difplea
' and Punifhmcnt of Almighty God, as by fuc
* fevere Examples of his great Jufticc in that I
' half, left us, in the Sacied Scripiiues, doih appi
' And if liie fame be not ptit inprercnt Executii
' VFC your Motl Loving and Dutiful Subje^ £
' ihereby (fo far as Mdn's Realbn can reach) _
' broughi intouitei Dclpair of ine Contmuano^jl
* amongfl: us, of the True Religion of Almightf J
« God, and of your Majefty'a Life, and the SafeiyJ
* of all your faithful Sut-jefls, and the good EliatCil
' of this Mod Floutilhing CommoQwcalih.'
After hearing the Petition read, the Queen with
great Majefty, both of Countcnange and Speech,
lays our Hiftorian, anfwered to this Purpofe :
S O
.s°
0/ E N G L A N D. 2;i3
^0 many and fo great are the untneafurahle GracM Qu«nEIiaibeth.
^ and Benefits bejio'-ivcd upon me by the Almighty, ist'
that I mu/i not ertty moft humbly achiowledge Vm as
Benefits, but admire 'em as ATiractes, being in no Jin The Que
able la exprefs 'em. jfudtha' none alive tan merej^- Anfvn.
ly acknowledge himfelf bcsind to God than I, whoJeLife
hehaimiracvleaJlyprefervedfTemfi many Dangers:
Tit am I net more deeply hand to give him Thanisfor
any one Thing than far this which J will now tell you,
and which I acca-int as a Miracle i nameiy^that as I
tame to the Crown with the hearty Good-Will ef all
my Stt^^Sffo new, after twenty-eight Tears Reign,
Iptretme in 'im the fame, if not greater Jffeiiion to-
wards me ; which Jhould I once kje, J might, perliaps^
finimyJelftol)reathe,hulnever could I think that I were
alive. And now, tho' my Life has been dangeroufly Jhot
aty yet, I protejt, there is nothing has more grlev'd me,
than that one,wha diners notjrom me inSex, one of Hie
Quality andiiegree,ene tf the fame RaceandSteck,and
fi nearly related is me in Blood,fr)Quld fall into fo great
g Mifdemeawr. And fo far have I been from bearing
her any Jll-fMll, that, upon the Difcovery effome
trtafinoMe Prailices againflme, I wrote privately to
her, that if ^e would eonfefs and acknowledge them,
by a Letter betwixt her and me, they Jhould he wrapt
up ia Silence. Neither did I write this with a Ptcr-
pafe to intrap her ; far I knew already as much asfiiC
tmldconfefs. And even yet, tho^ the Matter be come
thus far, if /he would truly repent, and no Man would
uadertaieher Caufe againji me, and if my lifeakne
depended hereupon, and not the Safety and We^are of
au my People, I would (Iprotefi itnfeignedly) willing-
ly and readify pardon her. Nay, //"England might
by my Death obtain a mere fiparijhmg Conation and
a belter Prime, I would moji gladly lay down my Life.
For, for your Sakes it is, and far my People's, that I
defire to live. As for me, I fie nojiich great Reafsn
(according as 1 have ledmy Lfe)whyIJboM either
be find to live, or fear to die. I have had good Expe-
rience if this Wund ; thave known whet it it to be a
S'tijeii, and Inoiv inuw what it is io be a Ssvereigiit.
T 3 Giod
a5;4 ^^ Tarliameutary History
Qaea>EH«abcth. G^^^ Ndghbsurs Ibcvi bad^ aniltjrje met witb bad ;
liW. and in Truft I have fsuni Tnafm. Itcvi befiffw*d
Binefiti vpsn Ill'DHirvers ; and when I tuVf done
well 9 1 have been ill reqmted and f^ ken sf. jybile I
€aUt9 Mind tbefe Things paft^ bmld Things frefenty
and look forward teward Things t§ camiy I count tbem
hapfiejl that go hence foontfi. NevertheJeJs again/tjkcb
Evils and Mifihufs as thefi^ I am an/fd with a bet-
ter Ccyrage than ts commsn in my Sex ; /a as whatfi-
ever befals me^ Death JhaU never find me unprepared.
Ana as touching thefe treafonable Attempts ^ IwiU
net Jo far wrong mjfelf^ or the Laws ef mr Eng-
dom^ as not to think but that fie, having been the
Contriver of the fdd TreafinSy was boundary Uabk
to the antient and former Laws^ though the late A/f
bad never been made% which notwhhftanding was in
no Sort made to prejudice her^ as disoers who are ia^
cHned to favour her have imagined. So far was it
from being made to entrap her^ that it was rather in-
tended to forewarn and deter her from attempting
any th'-ng againji it. But feeing it had now the
Force of a Lawy I thought good to proceed againjt
her according to the fame. But you Lawyers are fa
curious in Scanning the nice Points of the Law^ and
proceeding according to Forms ^ rather than Expound'^
tng and Interpreting the Laws themfeheSy that if
ycur JVay were ohferved^ Jhe muft havt been indited
in Staffordfliire, and have holden up ter Hand at
the Bar, and have been trfd by a Jury of Twehe
Men. A proper iVay^ forfoothy of Trying a Prin*
cefs. To avoid therefore fuch Abfardities^ I thought
it better to refer the Examination of fi weighty a
Caufe to a felcB Number of the nobh/i Perjinages §f
the Land^ and the Judges of the Realm ; and aU
little enough- For we Princes are fet as it were upon
Stages in the Sight and View of all the IVorld: The
leaji Spot is Joqn Jpv'd in our Garments^ the fmallefi
Blemijh prefently obferdd in us at a great Dijlance.
h behoves us therefore to be careful that our Proceed-
ings he Jk(l and honourable. But I muji tell you
one Things that by this lajl A6f f Parliament, you
h%t reduced mi to fuch Straits arid Perpkxitiety
that
f
»
I
0/ E N G L A N D. ijij
that I mujt refdve upon tht Punijhment of hr whs Qs"
is a Priticej] fo nearly allied to me in Bhad, and
vjhefi Praliices agatnjl mt have fi deeply dffecfed me
with Grief and Sotreu/, thai I have willingly cho-
fen to abfent myfelf/rom this Parliament, lejl IJhould
imreafe my Trouble by hearing the Matter mention'dj
end not out of Fear of any Danger or treacherous At-
tempt agaiiijt me, as fame think. But I will nmu tell
ym a farther Secret, (the' it be nut u/ual with me ta
blab forth in other Cafes what I know.) It is not
hng fime thefe Eyes if mine fsvj and read an Qathy
' wherein fame bound tkemjihes to kill me within a
Month. Hereby I fee your Danger in my Pirfon,
which I will be very careful to prevent and keep off.
The Jjfoiialion you entered into for my Safety I
have mt forgotten ^ a Thing I never Ji> much as
thought of, till a great Number of Hands and Seals
to it were Jbewed me. This has laid a perpetual
Tie and Obligation upon me, ie bear you a fmgular
Good-lfill and Lave, who have no greater Comfort
than in your and the Commonwealth's R^fpeil and
JfftHion towards me. But forafmuch as the Mat-
tfr now in Hand is very rarely exampled, ar.d of
gnatt/i Confequence, I hope you do not look for any
prefint Refolution from me: For my Manner is, in
Matters of Ufi Moment than this, to deliberate long;
upon that which is but once to be refdved. In the
mean Tme, I befeech Almighty God, fo to illuminate
and direjl my Heart, that I may fee dearly what
mof be befl for the Goad of his Church, the Profperiiy
of the Commonwealth, and your Safety. And that
Delay m^ not breed Danger, we will fgnify our
Refolution to you with all Canveniency. And wbat-
tver the bcjl of Subjeiis may txpeil at the Hands of
the befl Princes, that expeii from me to be perfor-
med to the fall.
It will be found by the Sequel, that our Hiftorian,
Livy like, has drefl'ed up the Queen's Anfwer in bel-
ter Language than herTimewill allow. But, this
muft pais at prefent ; for it is not iiiferied at length
in either Jturnnl.—TQ proceed. The Lords met
again
!ip6 The Tarliamentary H i sto Wi
RuecnEitfabeth. agjiin oD thc 15th of Nffuembir^ and thence al-
^5^ journed to the »2d of thc fame Month*
In the Interim, Cambden ti^lls us that the Qua
had well weigh'd the Matter in her Mind, and| h-
ing diitradted with Cares and Thoughts, as it iroe
in fome Confli£l with herfelf, what to do in fo ia-
portant a Butinefs, (he fent the Lord Chancellor »
the upper Houfe, and Puckering ^ the Speaker, to III
lower, to advife them t9find out a mori pUafingBt'
pedient, whereby both the ^een of Scot's Life agl
be /pared and her own Security provided for.
This is Mr. Camhdcn^s Account of this ftcori
MeiTage, which he fays, was fent twelve Days if
ter the Petition was delivered, by Pucieriug Ih
Speaker: But herein our Hiftorian will be km
guilty of two Miftakes, by the Authority of ih
Journals. That of the Commons informs ni
that on the 14th of November^ two Days afierlli
Petition was delivered, when the Speaker hid n
ported to the Houfe the Subftance of the Qgeerf
Anfwer, Mr. Vice- Chamberlain ftood upi itf
having firft affirmed that the Speakers Report «l
true, he added, that the Queen bad comnnrf
ed him that Morning, to iignity to the fSni
Her Majefty's « Xhat h^r Highnefs, moved with fome Comfli
^^*^8V1if*' • feration for the Scottijb Queen, in refpeaofke
vou.' or the , ^ _^. , •' ^, ' . f
Queen of Scots. former Dignity and great 1< ortuncs jtt bcr youi^g
^ er Years, her Nearnefs of Kindred to ber M»
' jefty, and alfo, of her Sex, could be wdl phi
* fed to forbear taking of her Blood ; if, by iVj
^ other Means to be devifed, by the Great CooDO
' of this Realm, the Safety of her Majefty's Pier
^ fon and Government might be prefervedf wfeb*
^ out Danger of Ruin and Delhiiftion. ButbcR^
* in fhe left them, neverthelefs, to their own M
* Liberty and Difpofitions, of prooceding fldil^
^ ways, at their Choice. For, as her Afall^
* would willingly hearken to the Reafoos orM
* particular Member of this Houfe; to^ heiiMi
' they might exhibit their Thoughts, in that Oft
* either to any of the Privy-Council, being of tM
^ Houfe, or to the Speaker, to be by him ddifcr*-
^ ^(] to her Majefty.' AbA
i
0/ E N G L A N D. ay;
After the aforefaid Orator h?.d delivered diisQuee;
Meflage, he took Occafion to put the Houfc in
Mind, that at Ihe Beginning of this Parliament
the Lord Chancellor told them, that it was her Ma-
jefty's exprefs Command, no Laws at all Ihould
be made in this SelTion j her Majefty purpofing rot
to be preient lo give her Royal Afi'ent to any.
Wherefore he defired that this Houfe might be ad-
journed to the liih of Mvimi/er; in which Time,
he faid, it might be her Majefty would fend fome
other Anfwer to their Petition which (he yet had not
read. And the Houfc was adjourned accordingly.
On that Day,afiei many Speeches and Arguments,
which, by the by, we find were all on one Side,
the Houfe came to a Refotution, ' That no other
* Way, Device or Means whatfoever could or can
* poifibiy be found, or imagined, that fuch Safely
* Can in any wife be had, fo long as the faid Queen
' of Seett doth, or flial! live.'
The Jmirnah of the Lords fay nothing of this
Meflage; but there is Reafon to believe it wasfent
to tbem, becaufe that Authority informs us, that,
on the aid, ' After many ^Debates in that
« Houfc, the Lords agreed that the Matter (hould
* be put to the Queftion, and every Peer being
* afltcd his feveral Voice anfwered, with one Con-
* fent. That they could find m other Way'
* hem. The fame Day, they of the Lower
* Houfe came up, and delited the Lords to be con-
* tent to appoint fome of their Houfe to confer with
' them, upon the Anfwer that was to be made to
' her H.ghnefs. Whereupon the Luriis made
* Choice of the following, viz. the ALchbifhops
* of Canterbury and Yorky and the Lord Trealu-
* rer, fc. And the Lords, after Conference had
* with the Commitiee of the Lower Houle, made
' Report that the like Queftion was propofed to
* them of the Commons Houfe, and that they
* anfwered all wirh one Confent, no Man gainfay-
' ing, thai they einld find mother ff^oy. Wherc-
' upon, the Committees of both Houfes agreed
* upon
2pS The 'TariiaffieJitary History
rOsccBEtiubcib. ' upon this Anfwer to be made to her Majeity,
1586. * That hiving often conferred and Ion;; debated
' on that C>ieftLon, according to her Highnefs's
' Commandment, they could find no other Way
Both Houfa re- ' than what WIS fet down in iheir Petition..
folvc to i!>,de by ' Which Aniwer, for the Lords, was dehvered t
iheirPcKtion. * |,er Majefty, by the Lord .Chancellor, and for
* the Commons by their Speaker, at JUibmeaiig-
' Thurfday, November the twenty fourth,*
' On the 25ih of the fame Month, the Lord - *
' Chancellor delivered to the Lords her Majelly's
' Anfwer to iheir laftRefoluiion, iheE/Fcitwhere-
' of, was put in very extraotdmary Terms; If,
' faid her Mnjetly, i Jheuli jay unto yau that I
ii^Ug^Z^An- ' """" ""' '" S''^"' y'"^ Petition^ by my faith, /'.
' ' , ' Jbsuld Jay unto yeu m~.ri ihun, perhupi, I mean. -A
' /ind if I Jhouid Jay unto you i mean to grants i
' ysur Petition, I fieuld then tell ym more than is
' ^1 for you to know. And xhiii I muft deliver yoft,'
' an Anfwer Anfiuerlefs.^
Thus much Ferbatim from the Lord's JeurnaU^^
And all we have to add from the fame Authority^ .
is, that a large Entry is made in this lait Day's Pro-
ceedings, of every Thing done in the foregoing^-
relating to this ASair ; with 2 Copy of the PelitioR
at the Conclufion.
The unhappy and predefined Queen of Siots-
had not one Advocate, in either Houfe, that
would or diirft plead in her Favour, The Cuirenc
againtt her was fo ftrong, as would then have over-
thrown all Oppofers, and involved ihera in the fame
Ruin. There are feveral Pieces of broken Speeches
inferted in the Commons Jiarnals, -A] tending to.
her Deftruftion ; but fo interfperfed and unconnec-
ted, as would be very tirefome to a Reader. What
we can colled from the whole of ihefe Arguments
is, firft, ' That great iiirefs was laid, on the As-
sociATiofJ, which they had fworn to and ligned.
This was recommended to the Speaker to be urged
Home to her Majefty. Since, as they Vaid, it re-
Ipcctcd, more efpecialty, the Confciences of a
great Number of her good and loyal Subjetts which
cannot
1
1
0/ E N G L A N D.
29 p
cannot be difpenfed with by Laws. It was, alfoj Qji«nElbjbetS
proved by invincible Realbns, as the Jeurmil terms - -'
them. That neither the expefled Reformation in
the Scsltijh Lady, if the Queen ihould fpare her
Life ; nor yet, by lafer and ftronger Guarding of
her Perfoti; nor yet, by her Promife upon Word
or Oath ; nor by the Hoftages of other Princes her
Allies ; nor by her Banifliment; nor by the Revo-
cation of the Bull of Pope Pius V. (g) not yet,
by the Bonds or Words of a Prince ; nor of any
or all the Princes her Allies, nor by any other Way
or Means whatfocver, other than the fpeedy Exe-
cution of the faid Scatlijh Queen, the Safety and
Continuance of the True Religion, of the moft
Royal Perfon of the Queen's Majefty, and of the
peaceable State of this Realm, can, in any wife,
be provided for and eftabliflied.'
It is eafy to fee by the Scope and Drift of thefe
Arguments, that moft or all thefe Methods had
been propofed, either at Home, or from Abroad,
or from both, to fave this wretched Queen's Life.
It is very probable that all the Princes then in Chri-
fiindom thought themfeives interefted in it- But
it ia certain thai the violent Party againft her, in
the Houfe of Common?, were eager to have her
fpeedily deftroyed, for fear fome foreign Applica-
tion fhould have Force enough to fave her. This
Houfe we are told, was greatly alarmed at the
Coming of the French Embafiador, who arrived in
England, about ihis Time, to make fome Propo-
fals for faving the Queen of Scoti. For one Mr.
Grke, a Member, took Notice in the Houfe, that
fince that Embaliador W3s to have Audience of her
Majefty the next Dsy; who, he was fully perlua-
ded, within himfelf, came not for any Good to
her Majefty, or to the Realm ; yet, knowing that,
in fuch Cifes, they are ufually attended with a
Cempany ef Rafcah, and the bafejl Sort if People
if their Natim, and this Rabble ufing to thruft
ipto the Prefence of the Prince,
Mafteri
ff] S«i bcfors paj, loo,
501 The 'Parliamentary HisroKY '
tjffita'iUibeA-'^'S''' f^^'" a Ji range and mu/ual Thing. Tet I
ij86. cmfifi, that my h^rty Dejire was, thai feme -tther
Means might have been devifed^ to provide Jar yetir
Security and my eivn Safety, than thii which if new
prepmnded. Sa that I cannot but templaiity though
mt of yeu, yet to you, fince I perceive by yeur Peli-
lien, that my Safely dc-petuli wholly upon the Ruin af 1
another. If there be any that think 1 have fPun <^m
the Time in purpofe to get Commendation, ly a fetttt^
ing Sliew of Clemency, they do me Wrong undeji^
vedly, as he kncrjjs who is the Searcler of the mo^
fecret Ihoughts of the Heart. Or if there be tf«jr
that ere perfuaded the Commijf oners darfl pro-
naunee tie other Sentence for Fear they Jhould therein
difpleafe me, or feem to fail of their Care for mj»
1'refeivaticn, they do but burthen and wrong me
with fucb injurious Conceits. Par either thofi wham
I put in Irvji hovefairdsf their Duties ; or eye
they acquainted the Comm'fjioneri in my Ntime,_ that
my Will and Pkafure was, that every one Jhould aS
freely, according to his Conference; and what they
thought net ft to be made publiciy that they Jhould
communicate to me in private. It was of my fa-
vourable Inclination towards her., that I dejired Jtmi
other Way might be found cut, to prevent this Mif^
chief. ■ But fiuce it is mw refelv^d, that my Security'
is defperate without her Death, I find a great Rt-%.,
luilancy and Trouble within me, tlat I, who have ili-
my Time pardon'd fi many Rebels, wink'd at Jo mai^
Treajons, or negkCled them by Silence, Jhould novf^
feem to fhew tnyfclf cruel towards fi great a Prin*
cefs.
I have, Jivce I come to the Government of this
Realm, Jeen many defamatory Libels and Pamphlett
a^ain/l me, taxing we to be a Tyrant. Well fart
Ike Writers Hearts j / believe their Meaning wat.
to tell me News. And News indeed it was to mt tt
be branded with Tyranny. I would it were as great
News te hear of their lYtckednefs and Impiety. But
what is it which they will not venture te write new,
when they fliall hear that I have given my Coafint^
that the Executioner's Hands Jhould be imbrued in
iki
I
r
\
f
0/ E N G L A N D. 303
the Blood afmy netiriji Kiiifuioman ? But jo far am /QueeoZii
frsmCruehy,lhat, Ikough it wtre Isfavi my own Life, 1586.
Iwouldnot affer her iheleojl yioUms: Neither have J
been fo careful hew to preferve my own Life, as how to
preferve both her's and mine: H^ich that it is now
impojfible to do, lam heartily troubled. lam not Jo
void BfSenfe andjuilgmmty Oi not to fee my ownDari-
ger before my Eyes i nor fi indifcreett as to Jbarpen a
SworJ to cut my own Throat \ ner fs egregioujly care-
iefs, as not to provide for the Safety of my own Life.
"This I ceifidtr with myfelft that many a Man would
^iKsard his own Ljfe to fave the Life ef a Princefs ;
but I am not of their Opinion. Thefe Things have I
matg Times thought upon Jerioujly with my/elf.
But fince fo many have both ■iuriiten and ^oien
sgainff me, give mi Leaz-e, I pray you, to fay fome-
what in my own Defence, that ye may fee what
■Manner of Woman I am, for whofe Safety end Pre-
fervaiion ye hcve taien /uch extraordinary Care.
f therein as I do, with a moll thankful Heart, difcern
and read your great I'igiJatice ; Jo am I fure I jhall
never requite it, had I as many Lives as ail you
together, .
tVhen firji I took the Scepter into my Hand, I
was not unmindful of God the Giver, and therefire
I began my Reign with feturing his Serviie, and
the Rtligion I had been both bom in, bred in, and,
J trufi, Jhall die in. And though I was not igno-
rant bow many Dangers I Jhsuld meet withal at
Home, for my altering Religion, and how many
great Princes Abroad of a contrary Profejfion would
in that Relpelt bear an hojlile Kind towards me:
JTet was I no whit difmay'd thereat, knowing that
Gad, whom alone I ey'd and refpeiied, would defend
both me and my Cauje. Uncf it is that Jh many
Treacheries and Conjpiracies have been attempted
againjl me, that I might well admire to find myjelf
alive at this prefent Day, were it not that God's ho-
hf Hand has Jiill protected me beyond all Expef/ii-
tion. Next, to the End I might make the better
Progrefi in the Art of Ruling well, I had long and
firiosis Csg'tasbns with myfslf what
m,jl
304 The 'Parliamentary HisTORT '
tl,. 1719/} Wirthy end betomins Kings te dt) : And /
feuiid it abfiluliJy that they JhsuM be csmpletily fiir-
nijhcd with tha/t prime capital Vlrtuci^ 'Jiijiice,
Temperance, Prudence and Magnanimity, Of the
two latter I will not boaji myfelf; my Sex dots net
permit it ; they arepr(rpcr to Men. But for tbe two
farmer and kji rough, I dart fay, {and that withsat
Ojientsliott) I never made a Difference of Peifsnt^
hut high and low had equally Right done them: I
never preferr'd any for Favour whom I thought tat
fit and wsnhy : I never was forward to bfHeVf
Slories at Ike firfi Idling ; nor was I ft rejb as to
fiiffer my judgment to be foreJiaU'd xt/ith Prgudice,
before I had heard the Caufe. I will not fay but
many Reports might haply be brought me, tto much in
Favout of the one Side or the other: For a good and
a wary Prince may fometimes be bought and fildy
whilfi we cannot hear all aurjelves, Tet this I dart,
fay boldfy. My 'Judgment (as far as I could under-
Jland the Cafe) ever went with the Truth. And as
Alcibiades advijed his Friend, not to give any An-
fwer till he had run ever the Letters of the whe^
Alphabet -, Jo have I never ujed rajh and fudden Re-
filutions in any 7hing.
And therefore as touching your Counfels and Cort-
fultations, I acknowledge them to have been wHh
fach Care and Providence, and fo advantageous for
the Prefeivation of my Life, and to proceed from
Hearts fo fincere and devoted to me^ that I fkall en-
deavour what Hes in my Power, to give you Caufe
ta thini year Pains net iil-heficw'd, and flrive to
fhtw myfelf zi/ortby of fuch SuhjeSis.
And now for your Petition, I deftre you for tht
prefent to cement yourfehes w th an Answer without
Anfwer. Your 'fudg^'icnt I condemn not, neither da
I mi/iaie your Reafins : But I muft defirt you to
excufe thofe thoughtful Doubts and Cares, whitb as
yet perplex mv Mind ; and to refl faiisfy'd with the
Profejfion of my ihaniful Ejleem of your Af'eSfions,
and the Anjwer I have given, f you take it for any
Anjwer at all. If I fhuld fey J wdl n.t do what
you rtqucfl, 1 might fay, perhaps, more than I in-
tend t
I
Oj ENGLAND.
305
/ might Quee
ysu en-
nfi-
tend: And \fl Jhould fay I will do it,
plttuie my/elf into at bad IncomJfniemes 1.
deamur IB pr^ferve me from : fVhich I
dent your IFtfdomi and Difcn-tions would not that I
Jhauld, if ye co'ifsder the Circumflances of Placc^
Timet and the Manners and Conditims of Men If),
To conclude this long and melancholy Bufinefs.
The unhipp)' Queen of Senls fell a Sacrifice to the
Kemijh Religion ; and, as flie complains herfelf, in
" r iaft Letter to Queen Elizabeth, to thofc zealous
¥uritii7i!, who then bore the chief Sway iwEng-
^nd. Conftrained by Neceflity, and at the earneft
prayers and Entreaiies of both Houfes of Parlia-
Nient, Elizabeth firft fufFeied the Sentence to be
Bublickly prcclaimed againft her; and then fliutM;
ler Eyes whilft the bloody Decree was put in Exe- Set
^Blion. What Buftle was made about Davljony
me -Secretary, afterwards, is very well known.
itoft Hiftorians think this was all a Farce; as well
t the great Reluftance th.it was previous to it.
>ueen ESzabftl^s own Chonicler writes, that It
T^ai thought to proceed from the lalUTal Art and
M Guift of Ifomen ; wis, the' they defire a Thing never
I' j6 much, ytt will always feem rather to be esnjtrai/ied
■end foreed to it (i).
■ II is obfervable, that the Proceedings of the Iaft
Parliament were different from any that was ever
fummoned before in this Kingdom. No Bills of
any Kind were exhibited in either Houfe; and
confequently, no Ails were palled at the End of it.
They Itemed to be called, only, lo conftiiute a
higher Tribunal ; to re- hear and re-examine ibe
Letters and Evidences againft the Queen of Siots,
and confirm the Sentence. By wiiich Means of
Proceeding againft Crowned Heads, Elizal/eth gave
Vol, IV. U the
(i) Tie tutiouj Inquirer roa/find thii Matter more >l large in
the Supplemept to HnllingJiitaiPs CbrenUle, (Pig. 1580 to 1587.)
cndine ia tliis my Yeir; wlicie thia whole Affair is drBMn up mi
deliver'^ in the Language and Oithognphy of the Timea.
(-,■} Ca<Ml« PsK- 518. ThE Q^een of Seas was beheaded all
F«tlenr.gboy-Qxple, fib. i 1587. So Ihit (torn the Thne that
Sentence wa! pronnuQted againft her, flie was fufftrcd lo live, in «
teniblc Snn of UnccrtainCj', Ycry near imi Monihi.
'■the Parliament aPower, which, one Branch of i^''
too fatally, took to themfelves, in a fucceeding
We now enter upon a Year, which wiir be ever
memorable for one of the grealell Deliverances this
a- Nation ever had, from its mort formidable Ene-
mies. Cambdeii iniroduces it with Prefages and
Prophecies, all ominous to Etiglarid. Reports and
Rumours were no longer uncertain, but it was
now mod certainly known that an invincible Ar-
mada was rigged and prepared in the Poits of
%poin, in order to invade England. And Ihat the
Itnioft famous OiBcers and Soldiers were fent for,
rom different Parts of the World, to affift in this
^ Expedition.
But, whilft thefe Preparations were making
""^^'E^'^5' Abroad, the Englijh Pailiamcnt met at Home,
t ■VVEibiiLiifln. according to the Adjournment, February rhc isth.
It is very furptifing that the particular Writer of
this Reign has not one Word about this lecond
Meeting ; efpecially when there w ere feme memo-
rable Things, relating to the Exigencies of the
' ,, Times, iranJadted init. Hefeems to be fo intent
on the raifing Forces for the Security of the King-
dom, that he has forgot the very Sinews of War,
without which all martial Preparations are in vain.
The two firft D^ys there was nothing done,
becaufe the Lord Chancellor was fick; on the
lyih Sir Edmund Jnderjm, Knt. Lord Chief
Juftice of the Common Pleas, read publickly in
ihc Houfe of Lords, a Commiflion from the
Queen, diiefled to himfelf, by which he was au-
thorized and ap|iointed, in the Abfence of the
faid Lord Chancellor, to a^ in his Stead.
The fuccceding Days, to March the ytb, there
were only fome Bills read for the better regulat-
ing fome Blanches of the Law. f!ut, on the
Day afordaid, a Bill was fent up by the Com-
Sutf.iy. mons, entitled. An Afl for one entire Sub/idy [i\
and two t'lfteenlhs and Tenths, to be granted lo
her Majefty by the Temporahty. And it pafled
th:
flj Tb«Tjme as b;fon. Sllei, p, 741.
I
Of ENGLAND. 307
I
tlie Houfeon the 9lh Inftant. The next Day aQucenElinbttb,
Bill for the Confirmaiion of one eniire Subfidy, 15878,
from the Clergy, of Six Shillings in the Pound, to
be paid in three Years, was read and paJlcd alfo.
But tliefe dilatory Afts not anfwering the pref-
fing Occalions of the State; on the nth oi March,
a rL^elTage was fenl from ihe Commons, requefting
that it would pleafe the Lords to appointa Num-
ber of their Houfe for a Conference with a Com-
mittee of the other. Accordingly the Archbifliops
of Canterbury and TlB'i, the Lord Steward, the
Lord Chamberlain, the Earls of Kesi, Wnntfler:,
Rutlani, Hertjard, and Lekefler, the Bilhops of
Lmdon, Winche^er-ivA Satijbury, the Lords Csbhamt
Marlty, Grey, Stafford, Stsurisn, Cromzvelt, North,
Delaware and Nerris, were appointed. Who,
Ihe fame Day, after the Conference, made a Re-
port 10 the Houfe, ' That the Commons made
* humble Suit to their Lordfliips, to haVe the^^ ^"5*'^''?'.
* Lords of litis Houfe join with them in a Contri- ^^^ * "'"'
* biiuon 01 Benevokrue, which they of the Lower
* Houfe mennt to uifer unto her Majelfy. The
* Manner, how [hey meanlto proceed [herein, was
opened by the Archbifhop of Cauitrbury. On
I* which Report cf the Committee, the Lords
thought good to refer cheir Anfwers herein till
Aianday next.'
But we hear no more of this Matter until ff^ed-
nefdaj the isth ; when another Memorandum )s
entered, ' That this Day the Lords of the Com-
* mittee made Report unto the whole Houfe, that
* upon divers Conferences had with the Committee
* of the Lower Houfe, touching their Requeft
' made to rhe Lords to join with them in Petition
* to her Majefty about a Beiievokme, or Coniri-
* bntion, which they of the Lower Huuli: thought
* good to olFer unto her Majefty ; the faid Lords of
■ the Committee thought it good, for divers Rca-
* fons, to join with the Commons therein, which
■ Reafons, when the whole Houfe had heard and
* conlidered, their Lordfhips did refolve that the
* Commons (hould be left to themfclrcs, and that
U a ' Ihej*
3oS The 'Farliamentary Histoi^t I
'■ * ihey Would lake fuch Order herein as lo their"
' Lordfliips Ihall feemconvenreni.'
Accordingly, the Tame Lords, as before, were
chofen a new Committee to refoive upon the
Comribiiiion ; when after fomc Conference had
amongft themfelves, in Refpedl of the great Char-
ges her Msjefly hath herelofore been at, and that
her Highnefs iiiuft be enforced to be at hereafter,
for the Defence of this Realm, and other her Ma-
jcfty's Dominions, they refolv'd freely lo ofFer aad
give unto her iws Shillings in the Pound, after the
Rate of the Valuation of the Subfidy of the Tem-
porality, granted in this prelent Seflion of Parha-
ment, to be paid unto fuch Perfons, and at fuch
Times, as it Ihall pleafe her Majefty to appoint.
Which Refoiution being afterwards openly declar-
ed unto the whole Houfe, the Temporal Lords,
in regard that the Lords Spiritual had made a prior
And from the. Offer of Contribution to her Majefty, did akoge-
*™'^'' ther, with one Confent, croft wilhngly, ratify the
faid Relblution, both touLhing the Sum and the
^k Payment lliereof, and ordered that this free Gift
^V fhould be entered on Record ; and that fuch of the
^P Lords as were then prelent, of her Majefty'a Privy
" Council, fliould fignify iheJame to her Highnels,
in all their Names.
, In this Seflion there was an Afl pafled for con-
Atujndmof the foming the Attainders of Thmi late Lord Pageii,
wctji or acote ,L T i> ■''!* .
AeconipliceB. afd Others, who arc marltea by mitial Letters in
the printed Statutes; butCamideri hath explained
thefe to be Char/es Paget, Sir Francis EigU/ield,
H Framii TbragmarteH, Anthony Bah'ingtsn, Tbamas
^^ Sulisburj, Edward Jenfi, Chidsoch lichiume,
^B Charki Tdncy, and the reft ot the Confpirators,
^H on lire (^jueen ot &c^i Account, who had been
^Ev iried and executed fume Time before. By thii
^B Adi. all their Goods and PoUcifions were conlif-
^P cated ; but our Hiltorian places it as- made at the
^r lirft Meeting of this Parliament, whereas it was
H pEtded in the fecond.
^V This fecoad SeiFion lafteJ but about five Wceks»
t aooui nve vvceKSy
expedited, nineirf,
5i
Cy^. E N G L A N D. jojj
are mentioned in the printed Statutes j buto^^^Bn^t^^t
cmarkable enough to be taken any more isS;*),
of here. One Thing, however, is memo-
that on yie laft Day of the Seflion, the
ons fent up a new Bill, for the Sale of the
)f one Thomas Handford^ for a Debt due to
)wn, &f^. when the Lords had before pafled
o the fame EfFeft, and fent it down to the
DHS. Therefore it is entered that fince the
3ns had rcjefted their Bill, withoulConfcrcnce
nc o^ the Lords of this Houfe, and framed
(ill and fent it up ; their Lordfhips thought
:edent fo ftrange, and fo far contrary to the
of this Houfe, that they refolved to put it
Qyeftion, Whether this new Bill fliould
Orders of this Houfe be read here or not I ^
hole Houfe being particularly afked their
M, with one Confent, they concluded, that
loot be read.
is ail that is material in the Lords Journals^
: of the Commons is much more filled with
- of Confequence, which happened at this
Vdeeting of the Parliament. Wfe are told,
the 22d of February y the Day this Houfe
:er another (hort Adjournment, Sir Chrijio^
^atton^ Kt. Vice-Chamberlain, acquainted
ife, * That it was her Majefty's Pleafure
jrfhouldhave difclofed to them the Dangers
ion then flood in ; That (he thanked God
fo good a Houfe of Commons, and wiflied
ion might be fliort, that Men concerned aSg.^j^^^
lors might go home to their Governments, opens" to the*
Sake of Hofpitality and Defence ; and to Houfe the Affair
3ther Time for making Laws, except fuch J^^ ^^^ SpiniOi
ow neceflary.' The Dangers which he °^**®^'
f, he urged, were thofe ot antient Malice a-
le Queen ; which were to be prepared for,
d invoked for his Affiftance. The Sub-
)f the reft of his Speech, he drew up under
owing Heads ;
le CatboUcs r.broid, the Pope^ the King f '
he Princes of the League, the J'apift
and their Minifters.'
U 3
310 ne 'Parliamentary Histort,
, The frincipal Root thereof :
* The Council of Trent, which agreed to extirpate
Chriftian Religion (which they term Herefie)
whereunto divers Princes aflented, and bound them-
Jelves in folemn Manner.
' Pope Pius [he Fifth lent his Excommunica-
tion againft her Majefty ; Dr Morton and Mendoza^
a ^panijb Amballador, beftirred them ; a Northern
Rebellion was bred, the Pope and the reft prafti-
fed for the Scottljh Queen, and the being acquainted
proceeds by their Means.
' Pope Paiiks, the Thirteenth, proceeds, and
fends Jefuits and Seminarm to Engktid and Ire-
land, and ihey proceed to inveigle the Subjefls,
and difluade them from Obedience. Viske begin-
ning a Rebellion in Ireland, fames FitzMsrris
furthereth theExecuiion thereof, Doflor Sanders
and Dejmnd ftir new Rebellion there, and wrot*
into England, &c. Parry was moved to kill hi
Majefly, and perfuaded it was meriiorious {0-
* Pope SixCus, the Fifth, Jmilateth the othei
Popes to execute their former Devices, and writetl)
to the Cardinals o( Lorrain and Guife, that he will
overthrow the Gofpel (which Mr Vice- Chamber-
lain honourably termed the gloiious Gofpel^ and
therefore moved them to join with the Princes of
the League, and to prattife to win the King of
Scsis, and tofet up the Scottijh (iaeen in England^
and made his Reckoning of the Cantons ihai be
Popifh, ihcSwiizen, the Duke o^ Savoy, the Puke
o( Ferrara, King of Spain, zndK.\ng ui France, ^
thief Inflrument to work this, was Father Unry.
* He was lent into Germany^ and over Italy and
France-, and wroie to the Siotti/h Queen, that the
Powers will join lo over!lirow£?;^/fln(/, and make
known the tffefl of his Labour to the Pope. In-
vafion fhould have been made into EtiglaadznA
Ireland the lalt Year, and not unlike to be attemp-
ted ihis Year.
' The Pope cxcommunicateili the King of JVaJ
par. The P-ope accounieih not of Popifti Preach^'
it) See, Lefote, p. Z59j 263,
•rs
ledfl
0/ E N G L A N D. 311
jng and Perfualions that Way ; but reverthcIefsQueoiBl
movclh all to ufe the World, and tor Maintenance 'sS?-'-
thereof fpateth his Trearure otherwire, and with-
draweih Maintenance fiomyif/H/iJ and Seminaries :
And divers others Letters were found with the
ScoUiJh Queen, which prove all thefe to he true.
If we lerve Almighty God in Sincerity of Heart,
we need not to fear. It is to bz remembred that
the King of Spain fought to recover fome Fart of
his Father's Credit, by ufing our Treal'ure and
Force to get St ^iniin's ; but he foon made his
Advantage of it, and reg3rded not our Territories
in Francit but fuffered the Lofs of CaUis and al!
our Territories ; and after the Death of Queen
Mary what he could. Her Majelty fought for
his Good-Will, fending the Lord Montague, the
Lord Cobham, Sir Ihomas Chamberlain, Kt. Mr
Maun, and others ; and they were but hardly uled,
fome of ihera were offered great Indignity and Mr
Maun'i Son forced, by Strength, to do a Kind of
Penance. He comforted the Queen's Enemies,
be giveth Colour of Wars, hechargeth the Queen
thai her Subjefls have aided his Rebels in the Lovj-
Countries, with countenancing Monfitur (m) with
Money at Cambray, with fending her Nobility with
him into the Lsw Countries, with the Actions of
Sir Franas Drake, with Afliftance of the Lmi-
Countriei.
' Of the Purpofeof the Comiiined Princes :
* Their Shew is to deal with the King of Na-
ijflrr to extirpate him, but their Drift is to ruin
Religion, not only there, but to fet upon and to
work the Ruin of it here aUb ; wherein the Cardi-
nals of Lirain andG/i;/^ are now very bufie. Their
Malice is the nioie for Executing the Seottijh
Queen, but their Hope is the lels, The King of
Spain's Dclignments are to invade England and
Ireland,
' HU
(m) The famous Duke D'^/fliMn, menfion'd LeTore (P. 13!,,
tt fcq.) whom ihs NirbcrlatJers chofe for theii Governor at tlicic
P^valt fr«n S^in, ^Mitov\ M<ii, BiJI, Vol, II.
**
3ia The Tarruimentary Hi&roKJ. ■
.Qa«nEii«beth. * ^'^ Preparation :
IS87-8. ' Three hundred and fixty Sail of S/i7(«. Eighty
Gallies from Fmia and Genod. One Galliafs with
fix hundred armed Men, from the Duke of Fls-
rence. Twelve thoufaiid Men maintained by Italy
and the Pope. Six thoufand by the Spanijh Clergy.
Twelve thoufand by his Nobility and Gentry of
Spain, It is reported, that ten thoufand of ihefe
be Horfemen; I think it not all true, but fomething
there is.
' We muft look to the Papifts at home and a-
broad. It hath touched us in the Blood of the
Nobili'y, and the Blood of many Subjefts.
' They praftife to frame Subjeflsagainft all Du-
ty, and bring in Doflrine of Lawfulnefs and Me-
rit to kill the Queen, and have lent their Inllra-
pients afcroad to that Purpofc.
• Two Manner of Forces are tofie handled.
Aflift^nce to the Lffoj-Couniries, and Defence by
Force oihcrwife. That God may adilt us in Jy-
flice, in Right, in Defence again ft thofe Princes.
* Thp Affiilance is acceptable that will be profit-
able. Her Majefty oweth Relief there in Honour,
according to the Leagues, efpecially between ugard
the Houfe of Burgundy : Which Leagues differ
from Leagues growing between Prince {ind
Prince, for they grew between the People and this
State, We are bound to help them in Honour
according to the Leagues. Many Matriiges and
many Secrecies have been long between us, and the
relieving of the Affliflions of that People may nop
be omitted.
' The Heads of their Miferies s.xe, ih^ Spanijh
Inquifition by Placard, uliiig ftiange Tortures not
^o be fuftered; great Impolitions without and a-
gainft Law, lending fume of their People into
5pff;« and there tyriinnized over; their Noblemen
done away ; taking their Towns, and felting Ty-
rants over them to ufe them like Dogs. The Pur-
pofe w:is lo bring the Lew-Ccuuine: into a Mo-
raichal Seat, and then, t^a: noMs. ' The Queen's
Peaiing there Js warranted by God. The Queen
^
Of E N G L A N D. 313
ia occafioned ofNeceflity for Safety of her Domi-Qujc,
jBions and us, that that Country may be preferved,
fliatthe EngSJh Commodities may be vented there
vith Readinefs, with Safety and with Profit; the
feecovery thereof will be good for this Country
and Crown ; it may not be fuffered that a Nelgh-
K)ur Ihoiild grow too ftrong. (He commended
Ae Princes of Italy, and efpecially the Duke of
Wlsrenct, for ufing that Policy ; Henry the Seventh
for aiding the Duke of Sr/run;' with eight thou fan d
'Men, rather than the King oi Frame, after he had
found great Friendlhip of ihem both, that the King
oi Franiem\^l not grow too ftrong.)
' The King of Spain feekcth to be yet greater ;
tie hath already a Seat in Council amongft the Prin-
Iecb of Germany, by reafon of Territories his Father
got there ; and, if he could, he would frame the
%mv- Countries to his Defire*
■ As to the Pretence of Injuries before remem-
Jibred : As to the iirfl going over, her Majefty mif-
liked it, and punifhed fome of the Captains (he
named Sir Humfrey Gilbert for one.) Concer-
ning Mmjieur^ the firft Time her Majefty drew
him from proceeding for the Lotv-Counlries ; the
fecond Time (he confented that he (hould only
aflift the Low-Countries, which Monfieur after-
wards abufed, contrary to her Majefty "s Meaning.
Concerning Mr Drake'sB:^ Voyage, her Majefty
inew it not; and when he c^me home, (he
ifeized the whole Mafs of Subftance, brought by him,
tofatisiiethe King ofS/jain (if Caufe fo requiredj
and thereupon deiired Certificate for Invafion in-
Jo Ireland.
* * Concerning Mr Drnke\ laft Voyage, it was to
tneet with the Rcftraint= and Sciiures in Spaitiy
«iid their Purpofeof War w.is thereupon difcover-
W ; for there w^is found by the Mafter of Mr
ii^'s Ship, who rook the Corrigedore, and others,
'* Commiilion from the King of Spain, whereby
>k termed us his Rtb^ls, as he termed the Lirw-
iQuuntries,'
S He
314 T^be Tarl'tamentary History
^gunEliiibeih, ' He then remembred another Grievance not
is!?-*. touched before, wliich was the Entertaining
of Don Anthony [n).
* Which he anfwered to be done in honourable
Cduriefie, becaule of his State, who was a King a-
nointed and crowned ; though his Seal was not long
untroubled, and coming hither in honourable and
courteous Manner, though fomething weakned,
required the Entertainment he had.
* Then lie iterated, that the great Grief is Beli-
on, and faid ihac all godly ones are bound to de-
fend it. He then commended her Majefty's Cou-
rage againit her Enemies Malice, efteeming it no
lefs than the ftouteft Kings in Europe.
' Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, after Mr
Vice-Chamberlain's Speeches ended, remembred
fome of the former, and inferred, and fo concluded,
that the great Preparations of War which was fit
fpeedily to be thought of and provided, would grow
chargeable ; and therefore thought it fit with Ex-
pedition, that the Houfe fiiould appoint a con-
venient Number to fet down Articles for a
Subfidy. Whereupon all the Privy-Council be-
ing of this Houfe, the firJt Knight for every Shire,
and others, were appointed 10 meet in the Ex-
chequer-Cham be rj at two in the Afternoon.'
' February 27. Mr Cope^ a Member of ihij
Mo-Houfe, Hood up to make a Motion; and after
Kra. ufing fome Speeches touching the Nece flit y of a
'"j"- learned Miniilry, and the Amendment of Things
amils in the Ecclefiaftical Eftate, offered to the
Houfe a Bill, and a written Book ; the Bill con-
taining a Petition that it might be enafled, that all
Laws, now in Force, touching Eccleiiaftical Go-
vernment, Ihould be void : And that It might be
enacted, thjt the Boole of Common-Prayer, now
offered and none other, might be received into tho
Church to be ufed. The Bool; contained the Foim
of
fa) N»tunl Son of Jobx III. King of Ferttigal, whom tha
Englifi ifliftcd ia lui I'icUdEdui to that Crown, apiaSt Ftilip i(
Kins of Sf'"' SaI'Ndn,
I
Of ENGLAND. 31J
of Prayer and Adminiftration of Sacraments, v/itli Qa«'
divers Rites and Ceremonies, to be ufed in the
Church. And defiring that the Book mighi be read,
Mr Speaker, in Eifetl, ufed this Speech :
' For ihat her Majelty before this Time had
commanded the Houfe not to meddle with this
Matter, and that her Majefty had promifed to take
Order in thofe Cafes, he doubted not hut to the
good Satisfaction of all her People ; he delircd that
it would pleafe them to fpare the Reading of it.
Nolwithftanding the Houfe defired the Reading of
ir. Whereupon Mr Speaker willed the Clerk to
read it. And the Clerk being ready to read it, Mr
Daltm made a Motion agaiiift the Reading of it,
faying, that it was not meet to be read, and that it
did appoint a new Form of Adminiftration of the
Sacraments and Ceremonies of the Church, to
the Difcredit of the Book of Common-Prayer and
the whole State ; and thought that this Dealing
would bring her Majefty'K Indignation againft the
Houfe, thus to enterprize the Dealing with thofe
Things which her Majefty efpecially had taken into
her own Charge and Direflion. Whereupon Mr
Leuikensr fpokc, (hewing the Neceffity of Preach-
ing, and of a learned Miniftry, and thought it very
fit that the Peution and Bonk (hould be read. To
this Purpofe fpake Mr Harlejhn and MxBainhrigg^
and fo the Time being p.ifled the Houfe brake up,
and neither the Peuiiun nor Book read,'
* This done her Majefty fent to Mr Speaker as
well for this Pe;iiion and Book, as for that other
Petition and Book for the like Effect, that was de-
livered the laftStffion of Parliament} which Mr
Speaker fent to her Majefty.'
' On the 28ih oi I-eb'uary her Majefty fent for
Mr Speaker, by occaiion whereof the Houfe did
not fit.'
' On the firft of March Mr Weniworth deli-
vered unto Mr Speaker, certain Articles, which
contained Qiieftioiis touching the Liberties of the
Houfe, and to ftime ot which he was lo anfwer,
and delircd they might be read. Mr Speaker re-
(juired
Symsnds ^
:ch ao^ J
rtant tc^H
d is ta ^1
1 Laws' ^1
3i5 The Parliamentary Histort
J, miired him io fpare his Motion un[il her Majefty's
PJeafure was further known louciiing the PeiJtioa
and Book Utely delivered inio the Houfe ; but Mr.
jytntivBrth would not be fo fatisfied, but required
his Articles might be read, Mr. Speaker faid he
would peruie tbem, and then do what was fit.'
This is all the Jsumah zSoxiws, butSir5y».. ___
Diwsi has given us Mr. Pf^entuiorih\ Speech aoA
the Queftions at large, which are too important tr
be omitted.
Mr. Speaker,
\ ' Tp ORASMUCH as fuch Laws as God is to
IE ' X^ be honoured by, and that alfo.fuch Laws'
" ' as our Noble Sovereign and this worthy Realm of
' England are to be enriched, ftrengthened and pre-
* ferved by, from all foreign and domeftic Enemies
* and Traiiois, are to be made fay this Honourable
* Council, I as being one moved and ftirrcd up by
* all dutiful Love, and defirous even for Confcience
* fake, and of a Mind to fet forward God's Glory,
' the Wealth, Strength and Safety of our naturij
* Queen and Commonweal, do earnelHy defire, by
* Queition, to be fatisfied of a few Qycftions.to be
* moved by you Mr. Speaker, concerning the Li-
' berty of this Honourable Council ; for I do af-
' fure you, I pvaife my God for it, that I do find
' in myfelf a willing Mind to deliver unto this Ho-
* nourable Allembly fome little Tafle and Account
* of that fimple Talent, which it hath pleafed God
' of his (ingular Favour and Goodnefs lo beftow
' upon me, to gain to his Highnefs's Honour and
'Glory; and to Ihew unto my Noble Prince and
' Commonwealth, true, faithful, and dutiful Ser-
' vice; of the which MinJ, lamfute.Mr. Speak-
' er, here are many godly, faithful, and true-hear-
' ted Gentlemen in this Honourable Aflemblyi
' hovvbeit, the Want of Knowledge and Expe-
' ricnce of the Liberties pf this Honourable Coua-
* cil, do(h hold and ftay us back. For as We have,
' a hearty Defile to ferve God, her Majefty, and
' ihis noble Realm; even fo are we feaifu! and
< loAih to giveorolier anypftence to her Msjcfty,
1
I Of ENGLAND. 317
^ or unto her Laws 5 the which) we piefume, wcq^^
ff {hall not do, it' we keep ourfelves within (he i
** Circle of them, and no Man can obferve that
■ whereof he is ignorant. Wherefore I praji you,
* Mr. Spealter, eftfoons to move ihele few Ar-
* tides, by Queftion, whereby every one of this
' Houfe may know, how far he may proceed in
II Jj this Honourable Council, in Matters that concern
BJ'the Glory of God, and our true and loyal Service
^" to our Prince and State. For I am fully perfua-
* ded, that God cannot be honoured, neither our
* Noble Prince or Commonweal preferved or main-
' tained, without free Speech and Conlultailon of
* this Honourable Council, both which confift
* upon the Liberties of this Honourable Council,
' and the Knowledge of them alio. So here are
* the Queftions, Mr. Speaker : I humbly and hear-
* tily beleech you to give them a Reading, and
' God grant us true and faithful Hearts in Anfwer-
* ingof them; for ihc true, faiihfal, and hearty Ser-
' vice of our meiciful God, our lawful Prince,
* and this whole and worthy Realm of England,
' will much conlili hereafter upon the Anfwer un-
' to thefe Queftions. Wherefore it behoveth us to
* ufe wife, grave, and godly Conliderations in An-
' fwering of them.'
* Therefore the Lord diicdt our Tonguea, that
_ * we may anfwer them even with his Spirit, the
t* Spirit of Wifdom, without the which our Wif-
H^'dom is nothing eil'e but Foolilhnefs.'
W' The ^U E S r 1 0 N S.
B ■ * Whether this Council be not a Place for any
B* Member of the fame here allembled, ireely and
u* without Controlment of any Per/on, or Danger
* of Laws, by Bill or Speecb, to uiter any of the
* Griefs of this Commonwealth whailoevcr, touch-
' ing the Service of God, the Safety of the Prince
~f"* and this noble Realm ?
' Whether that great Honour may be done unto
* Cod) and Beneh[ and tcrvice unto the Prince
' and
3 1 8 The ^Parliamentary Histor r
' and State without free Speech in this Council*
* which may be done with it?
' Whether there be any Council which can
' make, add to, or diminilh fcum the Laws of ths
'Realm, but only this Council of Parliament? ■
' Whether it be not againft the Orders of thii
* Council to malceany Secret or Matter of Weighty
* which is here in Hand, Icnown to the Prince ot
* any other, concerning the high Service of God,
' Prince or State, without ihe Confent of tho
'Houfe?
' Whether the Speaker, or any other, mny inter-
* rUpt any Merfiber of this Council in his Speech
* ufed in this Houfe, tending lo any of the fore-
' named high Services ?
• Whether the Speaker may rife when he vrilljitl
* any Matter being propounded, without Coalentil
' of the Houfe or not? : '
* Whether the Spe?ker may over-rule the Houfe
' in any Matter or Caufe there in Queftion ; or
* whether he is to be ruled or ovcr-iuled in any
' Matter or not?
' Whether the Prince and State can continue,
' ftand and be mainialned without this Council of
' Parliament, but by altering the Government of-
' the State?' n
I
r We are told that the Speaker did not think pro-i
FoiwhichJjeana per to put thefe Queftions to the Houfe; but
four more arf (heWed them to Sir thomai Heneage, a Privy-
^^'^"^'''.'Jj^Counfellor; and foon after Mr. fVsntworth was
tPiivy-Coumii. committed Prifoner to the Tcrwer. And Afarch
the zd, Mr. Ca^e^ Mr. Lewkener, Mr. Harltjlan
and Mr. Boynbrigg, the four Speakers to ihe Mo-
tion aforefaid, were fent for betore the Lord Chan-
cellor and divers of the Privy-Council, and by
them fent to the %wer after Mr, ffenltvorib.
Two Days after this, whilft the Houfe was fil.^
T>cbn'.t ihere- ung. Sir Jebn Mighamt made a Motion, ' That,'
■f""' ' fmce fevera! good and nccdlary Members of that
' Houfe were taken from them, it would pleaCe
• ihti
L
i
I
0/ E N G L A N D. gij)
' them to be humble Petitioners to her Majefly for QacenEU«!i«Ii.
' iheReftitution of them again to the Houfc' is!7-S.
To which Mr. Vice- Chamberlain anfwered,
* That if the Gentlemen were committed for
* Matter within the Compafs of the Privilege of
* the Houfe, then there might be Room for a Pe-
* tition. But, if not, adds he, we fhal! occafion
» her Majefty's further Difpleafure, He rather ad-
* viled to (lay till they heard more, which could
* not be long. And, further, as to the Book and
* the Petition, her Majefty had, for divers good
' Caufes beft known to herlelf, thought fit to fup-
* prefs the fame, without any farther Examination
' of them. And yet he corceiv'd it very unfit for
* her Majefty to give any Account if her Actions'
We hear no more of this Matter, nor how long
thefe Gentlemen were Prifoners in the Tnver; and
it is furprifing that neither Cambden, nor any other
Hiftorian take any Notice of fo important an Af-
fair. The reft of thisSeflion was taken up with
Matters of no Significancy in this Houfe; except
in theReading and Palling Ibme Bills already men-
tioned in our Account of the other. So that on
March the z^d, the Lord Chief Juftice declared
to both the Houfes, in Form, that her Majefty for
certain Reafons could not come down to the Houfe
to pafs the Bills ; and therefoie had granted her Let-
ters Patents, in which the Titles of all the Bills
are, particularly, recited for that Purpole. Which
Commiffion, being openly read, the faid Lord
Chief Juftice produced other Letleis Patents, di-
refled to the two Archbifhops, the great OEGcers of
State, fdc. bfc. conftituting ihem her Majefty's-,
Commillioncrs to diil'olve this Parliament ; which diir^v'd!
being read, as the former, ihe Parliament was dif-
folved accordingly.
The Span^ Invafion now engrofles all the
Heads and Pens of our Englijfi Hiftorians ; and
many Pages together, in our larger Writers, are
beftowed, in an exadl Detail of that prodigious
Enterprize and ever-glorious Overthrow. The
Conftitutional Pare of our Nation lies wholly
negledted
320 Tae Parliamentary Histort '
negieSed by ihem for fomc Years after ; and they
■ forgei 10 teU us that the Staie was almoit Bankrupt
by It. The Span'ijh Cajilures did by no Means
difcbarge ihe vaft Debt the Nation run into, by
the mighty Preparations made to hinder this Inva-
fion from taking Effefl; as the Proceedings of
ihc next Parliament evince lo fomc Purpofe j for ne-
ver fuch a Supply was granted, at one Time, by .
any Parliament before. ''\
Not long after, this grand Affair being over, and" '
the Kingdom perfeflly relieved from the Fear of
a foreign Yofee ; when the Queen had rewarded
her brave Admirals and Commanders, for their
extraordinary Conduft and great Valour (hewn on
the Occalion, as weil as ihe could, but not cqi^al
to their Merit; Her Majefty, by ihe Advice of
her Council, thought proper to fummon a Parlia-
ment, to mecizilVeJimnjler, on the 12th Day of
Nsvtmber in the 30th Year of her Reign. When
being aflembled, accordingly, it was by Leirets
Patents, directed to Sir Chriftsphr Hation Kt.
then Lord Chancellor, TVillidm Lord Bur/eighy ■
Lord Treafurer, i^i. prorogued from that Day to' J
the fih of February next enluing (c).
Al which Time, being again aflembled, and ibc
,^ Queen prefent, the Lord Chancellor opened the
'Caufe of the Summons to both Houles of Parlia-
'■ ment to this tSM j He toU them, [p) .
' That her Majefty had made it her conftanE
Study, from the very Beginning of her Reign
to this Time, to preferve Peace ; not only
ar Home but alio Abioad. That (he had given
no Occafion 10 i!ie many Princes about her to
invade her Dominions. Nor had taken Arms
to revenge the many Injuries which others had
brought Bgainft her. Peace flie ever had above
all l~hings at He:irt, had nouri(hed and prcferved .
ir. Neither the Inf;int State of Scatlaad, nor
ihe Treachery of Frmue, nor the Divifioas of
her Enemies, nor the frequent SoUicitations of
» the
0/E N G L A N D. 311
), nor even all ihefe Things, could move QufttBiinifth.
) make War. And, when flie heard that 'S«»-^
y Preparatidns were making againft her and
ingdom, fhe chofe rather to propofe Peace
o caft all Hopes of it afide ; for (he fent a
* grave, prudent, and noble Perfons, as
nbaffadors, to treat of it. Which, whilft
ivere labouring to efieft, behold, a vaft
of Spaniflj Ships were feen on our EngliJS
. Such a Navy, that for Number and
leis of the Ships, for Quantity of Arms
ilitary Forces, and for all Kinds of necef-
3res, was never feen to float on the Ocean
But God Almighty, her Majefty's
Defender and PreferVer, rendered tnis
-mado of her Enemies vain and ufeleis.
2 Britijh Navy, by far inferior in Ntmber
length, happily attacked, once and again,
luge rais'd-up Rocks and Mountains of
q)\ and, at ihe third ConfliA, fo difper-
latrered and difabled them, that, never
g to renew the Fight, they fled for itf
Dk a long Courfe hitherto unheard of;
f (leered round Scotland^ Ireland^ and the
lortkern Regions, and by thofe Means
:o regain the Spanijh G)afb. But what
icks they fuiTcred, what Aardihips they
)Ow many Ships, Soldiers and Seamen
I, neither can they yet know, nor we
tain, learn. Some few Ships efcaped to
but fo (haken, (battered and forlorn, as
1 never be of Ufe to them agaih. The
and Sailors who have furvived, were fo
y harrafled by Hunger, Thir(l, and other
:V. X • Hard-
trntin is hefe immanei iflas ScyUat et CeMtmiras, by
il ExpreflioD, we fuppoTe that the Chiocelior, who in
by CanAden, at a yiif learned Man, pve a Tranfla-
peech for the Clerk to enter in the Jmh^*L The
I Proceedings^ ftr many Yeait belbfc tl|ii Tlmej ne
t down in Enrlifi*
vhat lemarkable dnt there to hot tterj
h to DtivaU JcHrnshi
r 1
^ 311 The 'Parliamentary HisTqrt V
Q^unEliMbctk. * Hardfhips, thai they cannoc, of along Time,
1588-9. • recover ihe'ir former Health.
' But to what End, Tays he, do I, by this Re-
* ciial endeavour to make you fecure and void o& h
* FearP Do not you imagine, I fay. that lben^|
' are ardently Ihidlous of Revenge ; and that the^^|
' wil! not employ ihe Power, the Strength, th&^l
' Riches of Spain, and the Forcts of both King-
* doros, to accomplifli itf Know you not the
' Pride, Fury and Biiternefs of the Spaniard a-
* pinft you ? Yes, adds he, this is the great Caufe
' of Summoning this Parliament i that in this moft
' full Aliembly of the wifeft and moft prudemPer-
' fons, called together from all Pans of this King-
* dom, as far as human Council can advife, a di-
' ligent Preparaiion may be made, that Arms and
' Forces and Money may be in Readinefs ; and
' that our Navy, which is the greatcft Bulwark of
' this Kingdom, may be repaired, manned and fitted
* out for ail Events, with the utmoft Expedition.*
After Ihe Chancellor had ended his Oration, the
Queen adjourned the Houfe of Lords to the fixih
of February; to give Time to ihe Commons to
choofe their Speaker, which had been recommend-
ed to them by the Chancellor, at the End of hisj
_. Speech. Accordingly, on that Day, the Ci^ibT]
el^'ed"s^ken '"""^ prelented to the Queen G^w^f Snu^^, Stgr^
jeant at Law, for iheif Speaker, who, with tlie"-
ufuat Ceremonies, was confirmed. The Lord
Chancellor at the End of ilie Admiffion Speech,
only, acimonifhing the Commons not to extend
their Privileges to any unrcverend and mifbe-
coming Speeches, or unneceffary Accefles to her
Majetly (r).
To
u
(r) This Lord Chmctllor, Sir CtrJ/l.,j>l,r Hallin, i. firfl mm-
tioncd in the£aiirfe of thji Hilary, as Cipiain of (b« Guard, mi
aftBwacJs >9 Vics-Chamberl.iB. Cemhdrr. nils us, ' Thai of «
Cotutici, he wai miiJe Lord CEi^nccUurj =t vvhidi the great Lav-
yei) taak inudi ITiftane: Thai h: was advancul lo it bj tbe cun-
ning Atu ol' tme vvho, thinking tim unable to eiecute ite Oj&c,
hop'd b) thig Mtans to threw him out of the Queea'a Favour: But
iirJf'PparC^d >l>c {'Uce witb the grcatall State and Spleodor of isf
that ever wmt before him j and what he wanted in Kni>wtfd|9.^
tht LaWj he JibBW'd n make good by E^uii j and JuAicc*
O/' E N G L A N D. 323
To (hew what Effefl the Lord Chancellor's Q?«"Eiia
Speech had on this Parliament, the firft Thing the '^ ^^
Houfe of Lords went upon, was to bring in a Bill
concerning the Raifing and Regulating of Officers
and Soldiers; and the Commons alwut Railing a
Supply. The former Bill pals'd the Lords, and
went no further: But a Bill againft the Ernbczling
of" Armour, Habiliments of War and Viiflual,
which was made Felony, became a Statute (s).
The Commons took a long Time to confider
of the Supply ; for it was not til! the i ith Day of
March that the Bill was lent up to the Lords,
which at firft bears this lame Title in the 'Jouniah.
An ASi Jor three Fifteenths and Tenth;, and
- entire Sulifidies, granted by the I'emporaiity.
Whether there is- any Miffake in this Entry, or
no, is uncertain ; but, March the i+th, when the
Bill was firft read in the Houfe of Lords, it was more
fignificanily and pompoufly intituled. An ^ St for
the Granting of Four Fifteenths and Tenths and
two entire Subfidies, ia our mojt gracious Sovereign a Tsry [irg
the^een's meft excellent Maje/ly. And was pnfled Supply,
under the fame Title on the 17 th. On the fame
Day a Bill was read for the Confirmation of 3
Supply granted by the Clergy, which confifted of
two Subfidies of'hx Shillings in the Pound, to be
paid, yearly, by two Shillings in the Pound.
How this vafl Supply was carried in the Com-
mons, will appear in the Sequil ; but it was a
grievous Preceas:ni, and, as Ljra Coke obferves, this
Tax w,ts the firft thai broke the Circle, and made Lord Coke's
Way for much greater than this afterwards ("rj. ""'" *"""'
He add'', that in lormer Times, over and abovft
the Subiidy of Tonmgeand Poundage, the Cdm- ._
mors never gave above one Subfifty and two Fif-
teenths, fometimes lefs; orie Sublidy ufually a-
mountlng ;o Seventy Xhoufand Ptjund\ and each
Filtecnth, at Twenty nine Tho 'f-nd Pounds, or
thereabouts. The Clergy s Subfidiea were compu-
X z ^ed
324 *^^J^ 'Parli/ime^tary'tiisroKT.
QuMiiEi^iheih ted aiTwciHy Thoufand, and they never cxi
ijlS.9. e<J one Sublidy till ihis Time.
It may be fuppofrd that the great Joy the
tion was under, for being juft then delivered fr
foreign Fetters, occafioned this unufual Supply,
No doubt, they thought tAat, at another Time,
they could reduce this exorbitant Tax, on the
Subjefl, 10 its ufual Stint. But the Event fhewed
the contrary ; and, that let the Subjeds give what
they will to the Crown, the latter will always find
Oicafion to make it a Precedent for the fame or
larger Demand. ' It is worthy of Obfervacioi
fajE Lord Coke, how quietly ijubfidies, granted '
ulua-1 and accuftomed Forms, tho' heavy, v/er^'
feorn ; fuch a Power haih Ufe and Cuftom begot.
On the other Side, what Difcontenis and Diftur-
b.inces Stibfidies framed in new Molds do raife
fuch an inbred Hatred Novelty doth hatch, as ,0;
evident by Examples of former Times {u)'
The liime learned Lawyer, hath cxtrafled from'
cuf Records, feveral Examples to this Purpofe
which, as they were all prior to the Times we are
now upon, may come, apily, in this Place. Ob-
ferving, that all, and more, of this Kind, may be
met with in the Courfc of this Hiftory.
' In a Parliament, holdeu gth EdtvardWl. wh^
a Motion was in^ide for 3 Subfidy to be granted, (£
a new Kind, ihe Commons anfwered. they woudff
have Conference with thofc of their Countries andi
Pldcea who had put ihem in Truft, before Cbciijg
Irealeii of any fuch Matter.'
' In the 4ih of Richard II. a new Invention of
Subfidies was Ilaned, called a Poll-Tax, on eiiher
Sex, for the Futniiliing of the Earl of Bucking-
ham on his going to Fmme. Whereupon, a ftrong
and Urange Rebellion broke out; wherein three
great and worthy Minifiers of State, were by the
Rafcal Rebels barharoufly and wickedly murdered i
viz. Simen Si/dbury, Archbifliop of CanterkiH
Chancellor of England, the Prior of St. 'Jchn's
J'
nnd
lod^H
d^
It.
r-
M c«.
i iT^jiii.
- P=(- 33. 34.
I
t
Of E N- G L A N D. 325
yeru/aksj, Treafurer of England, and Sir yfl^/i Qo«n Eji»l)ctfc
Cavendijh, Chief Juftice of England. ' 15B8.9, '
' The gih of Henry VI. every Knighl's Fee
was chained to pay zo s, and fo according to the
Vakie, under or over ; as the Clergy were for Lands
purchafed fmce, zoih Edward I. And all others
having Lands, of 20 1. Value, not holden as afore-
laid, 20 s. This whole Subfidy, for certain Doubts,
the King utterly releafed, ib that there was no more ,
Mention made of ihe fame.'
* In the 4th of Heiijy VIL another fuch new-
found Subfidy was granted ; which raifed a Rebel-
lion in the North, in which the noble Earl of \
NerthMmbtrland, a Commiflioner in that Subfidy,
was, by the Rebels, caufelefsly and cruelly flain.' \
' Anna 16. Henry VIIL to futnifh the King for '
his going in his Royal Perfon to Franct, a new
Device for getting of Money was fet on Foor,
which made the headlefs and heedlefs Multitude to
rife in Rebellion, until Charks Brandon, the noble
Duke of Suffolk^ quieted and difperfed them.'
■ Sape Viatorem mva, non vetus Orbita fallil.
Thus far our learned Judge and Expofiior of the
EngliJhLaws. And we heartily wifli that thefe Ex-
amples would have deterred his Brethren from giv-
ing different Opinions to their King, in a Cafe of
the fame Nature, in a fucceedirg Reign.
In the Jmjrna/s o( the Commons, thisSeflion,
ia much lefs to our Purpofe than in many before.
The Proceedings in that Houfe, for feveral Days,
being taken up with Regulating Eledlions, and
lledtifying felfe Returns. It was not till Feb. 17th,
when the Motion was made for a Supply to be
granted to her Majefty. On that Day Sir Edward
Hobby, a Member, complained to the Houle that^^ "^'"
fevtral Particulars of a Speech, he had made on the Ahafei io tho
Bill for Regulating Abufes amongft fome Officers ^^hcqueri
of the Exchequer, had been reported cut of the
Houfe, for which be liad been fharply rebuked by
a very great Perfon. And praying that the faid
Bill might be again read and committed, he was in
X 3 fotrw
^0.6 The Tarliameutary Histoky I
' Queen EliiaUth, f*^ flic ^^''^ interrupted by the Chancellor of the
158S-9. Exchequer; who faid, ' That he offered not to
fpeak to any Prejudice of the faid Motion ; but
putting the Houfe in Remembrance of iheirCharge,
given unto him and others, for Conference to be had
touching fome convenient Supply of Treafure to
be had and levied for the ncceflary Defence of her
Majefty and this Realm, now prefcntly in Danger
of fuch mighty and great Enemies, as erll of late
hath been at large delivered unto this Houfe by
fome Members of the fame, declared unto them,
that he and the greater Part of the Refidue of the
Commirtees therein, though divers of them did not
give that Attendance therein which fo great and
weighty a Caufe do[h require, have met and had
Confeience tt^ethcr about the fame, four feyeral
Times; and, that at the laft and fourih Time of
their faid Conference, they refolved upon fuch
an extraordinary Proportion of Proviiion, as ihey
thought, the prefent extraordinary Occafion of Ne-
cefilty doth require, and that they did fet the fame
down in Writing, which he alfo moved rhighc be
read utilo them; to the End that if it might' upon
the Reading thereof, fland with their Good-lifcing
to allow of it and give their Aflents unto it, Mr.
Speaker might then deliver it to her Majefty's
learned Council, to have the fame framed into the
Form of a Bill to be proceeded in and pad in this
Houfe; and ftiewed ftirther, that as the Grant of
this Contribution is greater than haih been hereto-
fore for the mofl Part ordinarily ufed to be granted
fthe prefent Neceffiry fo requiring it) fo thinking,
good amoncft them it fhould not hereai^ier be an
Occafion of a Precfdent to Pofleriiy for the like
(v'idKiii' lil:e Cuie) divprs of them were of Opi-
nion, that (bme meet Wnrds to fuch an Effe"^
might be inferted in the Preamble 10 the Bi
And fh^w-d furiher, that one of the Committee
to wi!, Mr Francis ^nan, had for that Purpo..
fet down a Note in Writing, which, he laid, (7f
It picafed them) they might alfo hear read, arKl af-
terwards fif they thought good) might aff
I
I
0/ E N G L A N D. 327
livered to her Majefty'a fiiid learned Council like- qn,.enEli«Uilu
wife with the faid other Note ; and tliat withal the ijiS-ig.
feid Mr. Bacon might repair to her Majefty's faid
learned Council for the further Proceeding therein
with them, if this Houfe fhould fo think good.
Whereupon the Houfe liking well of this Motion,
both the faid Notes in Writing were read by the
Clerk, and afterwards agreed by the whole Houfe,
■that the fame Notes fhould be forthwith delivered
'by Mr. Speaker to her Majefty's faid learned Coun-
cil accordingly, and the faid Mr. Bacon alfo to re-
pair unto them."
After the Chancellor had ended. Sir Hfnry
Knyvet flood up and entered upon the Complaint
made by Sir Edward Hobby, and delired the Houfe
would take it into Confideration. He recited the
Heads of Sir Edward's firft Speech which gave the
Offence, and, after commending the Motion, he
urged the prefent Reading of the Bill, And, upon
the (^eftion, it was ordered to be read immediate-
ly, and afterwards committed-
This Bill, and another concerning Purveyors, And eonewning
gave great Offence at Court. We find that /If-Putvcyonj both
bruary Z7th, a Meffage came from the Lords to de-"'"'*' E""; Of-
fire a Conference with fome of the Lower- Houfe ^e^^" ^ '
concerning a MelTige they had juft received from
her Majefty. On this, a large Committee were
appointed, who, returning, made Report, ' That
* the Lord Trcafurer had informed them the Mef-
* fage from her Majefty was concerning the Bills
* aforefaid, which (he greatly mifliked in both
* Cafes. The one Knding lo regulate the Officers
* and Minifters of her own Houfhold; and the
* other, thofe of her own Court and of her own
*: Revenues. In both which, if any fhould de-
■ mean themfelves ill, her Majefty was of herfclf
* both able and willing to reform them. And
* would make public Examples, to other OfHcers,
* of thofe of her Houfhold or Court who fhould
* 2i any Time be found to otFend '
Many Speeches and Motions were made upon
ll|i«, what was bcft to be done to falisfy her Ma-
jefty
Her MdTiBe
318 The 'Parliamentary History
^wenilialtth. i«fly ^bout ihcir Proceedings in thefe Bills. Arl
ijsa 9. length, it wasTefolvcd to chufe another Committee }
to confidet of ihis Matter; and,alfo to fearch Pre-
cedents that might tieft lerve to that Purpofe. And i
two Days afier, it was reponed to Che Houle, that ]
the Commiitce thought the beft Way was to re- f
prefent the Cafe, as it flood, lo her Majefly by the I
Mouth of their Speaker. Accordingly, on Mardf'm
8ih, Mr. Speaker ihewcd unto ihe Houfe, ' Than
he and others of (his Houfc, who were appojntcdl
10 attend upon her Majefty, had Acccfa unto her '
Highnefe Yefterday in the Afternoon; and that
they received from her Majefty nioft comfortable
and gracious Speeches in far better Sort and Mea-
fute ihan he was any W^y able lo repeat or open
unto them, of her Highnefs's great and ioeftimable
loving Care towards her loving Subjeds, yea more
than of her own felf, or than any of them have
of thcmielves. And as to the Paris of the prefent
humble Petition of this Houfe unto herHighnefe,
in the Grievances by the Purveyors and in the
Court of Exchequer, it plcafed her Majefty to tell
them, That for the one, to wit, the Abufes of
purveyors, her Highnefs of her own Princely Care
towards her Subjects, had given Orders unto the
late Lord Steward to addrefe his Letters unto all the
Shirks of this Realm, for the due Inquiry and Certii-
ficate of the Mifdemeanors of Purveyors in ^1
Places, for fome Courfes thereupon to be had foi*
convenient Redreia in the fame : And that before
any Order could well be -taken for accomplilhing
that good intended EfFeifi, the ^paniardi upon a'
fuddcn attempted the Invafion of this Realm ; by
yeafon whereof (her Majefty faid) the faid Purpoie
was not performed. And To (hewing further, that
her Majefty having as much Skill, Wiii and Power
to rule and govern her own HoulhoM, as any Subr
]eiX to rule and govern theirs without the Help
ur Aid of their Neighboursi fo her Majefty mind-
ing very carefully of her own mere great Love
and Affeftion towards her dqtilul and loving Sub-
' 0/ E N G L A N D. jip
jcfts (whole moft faithful and approved good Love QuecaElinbetfa.
and Fidelity towards her, flie more efteemeth than *s88-9'
all the Treafures of the World befides) very Ihort-
ly to caufe a Colleflion to be made of all the Laws
already in Force touching Purveyors, and alio all
the Conftitutiors of her Highnefs's Houfhold in
that Cafe, and thereupon by the Advice of her
Judges and her learned Council, to fct down fuch
a Form and P!ot for the faid RedrelTes, yea, and
that before the End of this prefent Seflion, as fliall
be as good and better for the Eafe of the Subjefts,
than that which this Houfe had attempted without
her Privity, and in which they would have bereaved
her Majefty of the Honour, Glory and Commen-
dation of the fame. And touching the Exchequer
fhe faid, it was her Chamber, and fo more near
unto her than the Houfhold : And that in tfie
tenth Year of het Reign, her Majefty had caufed
certain Orders and Conftitutionsto be fet down, for
Ihe due and fit Courfe of fuch Things in the faid
Court, as her Subjeds feem lo be grieved for.*
On which thefe two Bills were drop'd, for that which ocdSton
Time ; but, as it feems, they were foon after re- '*"''',^<'inK ^"^
vived, by the Queen's Allowance, and paiTed into "'*' '
Laws this Parliament.
Few Seffions were ended in this Reign without
ibme Strokes at the Eftablifhed Church, or the Mi-
niftersofir. And \n thh Mr. Vavenpitrf&aod vp
and made a Motion, ' That he was neither for
making of anyncw Laws, norabrogaiingany old,
but for a due Courfe of Proceeding in Laws already fh^' R^fc™!*
eftablifhed. Thele, be thought, were ill execu- 'ion of the
ted by fome Ecclefiaftical Governorsj contrary '^'"^^"
both to the Purport of the faid Laws, and alfo,
to the Minds and Meanings of the Law-makers,
ID the great Hurt and Grievance of (undry of her
Mrtjefty'3 good Suhjeifls.' He then ofFtred a Wri-
ting to the Houfe, containing fome Particulars to
prove his Aflertion, and prayed that it mi^ht be
read.
In Anfwer to ihis Motion, Mr. Secretary Ifs!-
^ey < v '■ Le„ve to put the Houfe in Mind of
her
^^o The Tarliamentary Histort '
<te*nEli«»l>ett.'icrMajefty's exprefs Inhibition, delivered to them
'jSM- by the Mouth of the Lord Chanceilorj at the Be-
ginning of this Seffion, touching any Dealing in
Ecclefiaftical Caufes. And (aid, ihar, for his Part,
if they meddled in the laft tnoved Affair, contrary
to the Inhibition, the Houfe would fliew a high
Contempt of her Majefty's Commands. Where-
upon, though the Writing was received, it was
not read at all, but fomeTime after delivered back
to Mr. Davenport by ihc Speaker.
A Bill for Reforming the many Inconvent*
ences, from the great Number of Pluralities a
Non- Rcfidents on Church Livings, pafied the Coi
mons i but was thrown out by the Lords.
Thefc Altercations put the Commons into Til
vifions about granting the Supply. It was not riH
Dtbttt on the Ftbrtutry 28th that ibe Bill for it was again conli-
Soppiy. dgfed ; and feveral Speeches being made for having
it fpeedily ingrofs'd, it was oppoled by others,
who argued ' That il was belter to proceed with
other Bills, as neccflary for the Common-Wealth,
which ought to be treated on and expedited before
the Subfidy Bill : Becaufe, it was their Opinions
Vhen that Bill was once palled this Houfe, there
would foon be an End of this Seffion of Parliament,
Gn which, the Queflion being put, it was carried
for the Ingrolsment of the Bill, though we arc not
told by -what Majori[y. After this, it met with
no more Oppofition, but was paffed and fent up to.'
the Lords, on the x ith of March. i
We are obliged to Mr. Strype however, for re-'
irieving us one of the Speeches, made in theHoufc
of Commons, againft this large Supply. This
was alfo amongtt the Burleigbian Manufcripts; but
the Reader will eaiily acquit the Lord Trcafurer of
England of having any Hand in this Speech, what-
ever be might ha ve in that of Serjeant Puchring's.{u)
The Account of the then prelent Sia is of England
and of Spain, which will be found here, tnuft
ailGiie for the Lengih of it ; the Or.uor's Nante
is not mentioned.
4 Spteck.
tu) See befure pag. J7i.
ent> H
anM
0/ E N G L A ND. 331
A Spmb in Parliament Anno 31 Regina;. "^"w/? Qgt«EJii«b(*.
rt Bill af Subftdy to h granted for four Yean, in ijgS-9. "
Order ta a Preparation againjl any JJJauU front
Spain.
' TTrHEREASI am, though unworihv, a . - t, ■ -
' W Member of this Houfc, and zealoufly ^^.^ "'"'"'^
* deiirous to conjoin myfclf by Confent in all good
* Proceedings with the Body thereofi I have hiiher-
* to in this greai Matter of the Subfidy received fo
* fmal! Satisfaftion for theDireftion of my Judg-
* ment, that unlefs I fhould manifeftly diflent from
' mine own Confcience, which neither this Place
' requircih, nor Chriftianicy alloweth, I cannot
' confent with the Bill therein, which may feera
* to have had fo general and current a Confent, as
* it might feem fuperfluous to offer to fpeak to itj
* and efpecially at this Time, after the Engroffing
* thereof, after the Refolution thereon by a great,
' grave and wife Conaraictee, I may be deemed
' prefnmpliious, but to fpeak againft this Bill;
* whereby the Service of her Majefty and the
* Whole Realm may be fuppofed to be hindred; it
' miy be thought impious; it may be thought dan-
* gerous. The Confent of the greateft Part of this
* Houfe, as I take it, concludeih all the reft at the
' Queftion, but excludeth none in the Arguing.
'This Time, I con f els, to be fomewhat unlea-
* fonably chofen, but yet now is the Time to fpeak,
* or clfe hereafter for ever to be lilent. And ihere-
* in I do fomewhat rely upon the Authority of an
* honourable Pcrfonage, who, at the Putting of
•-this Bill to EngruiUng, affirmed it, in his Expe-
* ricnce, not to be uiiufual to have a Bill argued
' upon, between the third Reading and the Que-
' ftion, two or three Days.
• As for the Service of her Majefty and my
* Country, itnto which two I owe all Subjc<;iion
* and Duty, I am fo far from wilhJrawing either
* myfelf or others therefrom, thai my Speech fliall
' liave none other End, thaa the Advancement
' thereof^
333 The 'Parliamentary Histort
* ihercoF; neither, as I hope, {hall in that Beh^
* need any other Apology, than itfelf.
' My Meaning is not to difpute, whether it be
' lawful to grant a Subfidy, or no. For then our
' Saviour Chrift himfelf woolJ ftop my Mouthy
* with his Anfwcr to the captious Queftionifts ia
* the 2oth of Mattheiv. For fure, the very Im-
' prefiion and Supcrfcri prion of our Money puts us
* in Mind to whom it doth appertain. Ndthcr
* will I ai^Ge whether it be neceffary to grant a
' SiibGfJy, or not. But therein content myfelf
' wiih the Example of our Saviour, who in the
' I7ih of Mctthevj, paid his twentieth Penny out
' of his Fifh's Mouth for himfelf and Peter. Nor
' yet, whether it be convenient to contribute to-
' ward the ncce0ary Exigences of our lawful Prin-
' ces. For St. Paul teacheth me in the 13th to
* the Ramani, that Tribute appertaineth unto them
* of Duty, as unto Governors fent by God, for
* the well ordering and guiding of his People.
' But the Qucftion, wherein I endeavour to be.
' refolved, is, whether it be necellary or conve-
' nient for us at this Time to tender unto her Ma-
' jelty fuch a Subfidy, and in fuch Manner and
' Form, as haib been by divers heretofore moved,
' as the Purport of this Bill offcreth unto us.
' That is in brief, a double Subfidy to be paid in
' four Years.
' And Firft, for the Nectjjity thereof, I cannot
' deny, but if it were a Charge impoled upon us
* by her Majefty's Commandment, or a Demand
' proceeding from her Ma^ifty by Way of Requcft.
' [hat I think, there is not one among us all, either
' fo disobedient aSubjeft Jn regard of our Duty, or
' fo unibanhful a Man in refpeitof the ineftimable
' Benefits whith hy her, and from her, we hare
' received, which would not with frank Confent,
' hoih of Voice and Heart, mod willingly fubcnit
' himfelf thereunto, without nny unreverent, En-
' quity into the Caufea thereof. For it is conti-'
' iiually in the Mouth of us all, that our Lands,
' Goods, and Lives, are at our Prince's Difpofing.
f And
]
r
0/ E N G L A N D. 353
' And it agreeth very well with that Pofition ofOae"
' the Civil Law, which faith, ^od omnia Regis '
' funt. But how ? lla tamin^ ut omnhm fint. Ad
* Regem tnim Pole/las nmmum pirlinei ; ad finguks
* Preprietas. So that although it be moit irue,
* that her Majefty hath, over ourfelves and
* our Goods, P&teflatim impirandi^ yet it is as
* true, that until that Power command, ("which,
* no doubt, will not command wiihoui very juft
' CaufeJ every Subjeft hath his own Prsprieiatem
' paffidendi. Which Power and Commandment
* from her Majefty, as we have not yet re-
' ceived, I take it (raving Reformation) that we
' are freed fiom the Cauleof Necejfity.
' Another Caufe of NeceJJity, is the dangerous
' Eflate of our Common-Wealth in refpeit of In-
* vafion by our common and mighty Enemies.
* Which Reafon, becaufe in my Hearing it hath
* been the principal, and aimoft only Perfuaderof
* the Bill, requireih a more fufficient and exquifife
* Anfwer, than perhaps 1 fliall make unto it. I
* have before acknowledged it to be a necelTary
'•Anfwer, to move all to unwonted and extraordi-
' nary Contribution. And I muft herein needs
' fubfcribc to a wife and learned Man of our Age,
* who faith, that they be pia, qua mm Civlbus
* imperantur Tribula, fine quibus Civitas ip/a fun-
* ditui fit mteritura. But as I do alTuredly hope,
* that out Country is at this prefent in no fuch def-
' perate and dangerous Cafe i the very Teeth and
* Jaws of our mightieft and moft malicious Ene-
* my have been fo lately broken, and the Sword
' of hia greateft Confederate more lately fheathed
' in his own Bofom. Belide the Hope which
' may juftly be conceived of the Expedition now
* fetting forward (v), for the Defeating all iheit
* Plots, and Difappointing all their Devices : As,
' I fay, I do afiuredly hope, thai our Country for
* Uiefe Reafons, is in no fuch great Danger, as it
' ii pretended, fo may I conftanily a£tm, that
' al-
\ DrtU, ani
r
334 The 'Tarl'tamentary History
,. ' although by Way of Conccflion, I fhould grant'
' it lo be fo, yet the Subfidy, required by this'
' Bill to be graiuedj could give little or no Re-'
' lief thereunto. For as a Pardon comes unpro-
*'fitably 10 the Offender after his Execution, or
* a Potion to a Patient after his Death, orlieco-
* very to Health ; fo if ih.6 Stroke of God's E-
' nt-my and ours be likely to light upon us, ei-
* ther this Year, as it hath been here affirmed i*
' fo the next, as it is in my fmall Judgment
' more likely, I doubt not, but you will all con-
' fent with me, that a Subfidy, the firft Part
* whereof is not to be paid till the End of three
* Years, (Tor unto that only my Speech hatti Rela-
' tion) can ferve neither for Pay, nor Provilion, in
' Defence thereof.
XJtilis ejl Medidna fua yua Tempore ve/iit,
faiih the Poet. And, Sapitntia fera, is fetd W *
be Praxima Stuhitits.
' And thus having briefly fct down mine Opi-
nion againft the Neceflity of this Grant, I will
by your favourable Patience, with like Brevity
declare fuch Incanvenienm, as I have conceived
may enfue thereby. It is not unknown to you
all, but moft fen-lbly felt through rhe wholt!
Realm, what Charge and Expences the Com-
mons thereof were tbislaft Summer driven unto
fay Frep-ua:ion and Provifion of Arms, Hoifes,
Apparel, and other Neccflancs, fo; their iuft
and natural Defence agaiiift the intended in-
vafion; You know, that fince that Time X
Paymentof the Subfidy, laft granrea, hjth been
mxde unto her Majclly. There is none of us
ignorant what Number of Privy-Seals are even
now drfperfed through the whole Realm, to
the Emptying Men's Coffers, and Impairing oT
their Stocks: With what Readinefs, Duty aOd
Good- Will; thefe Things have been, and (hall
be performed by the Subjedls, no Man here may
dotiBt. Now then to bring a new and unacuf-
tomed Continuation of Payments, one to role
1
\
0/ E N G L A N D. 335
' in the Neck of another, ficut Unda /uperierit Un- qj,„„ ;
' Jam, I know not, by what Warrant of Reafon 1588-9!
' or Confcience, we may tlo it : Efpedally, con-
* fidering, that it is rot a Matter neceiFarily impo-
' fed upon us, as I iiid before, but voluntarily to
' be offered by us. Surely, one fpeaketh very
* phinly, and faith, A/mi eji CUtellam ferre Hben-
' ter. But I will, as it becomes me, uie more Re-
* verence in this honourable Place ; and fay, ihat
' I think it not convenient, that we fliould lay
* Burdens on our own Shoulders, or put Shackles
' on our own Feet.
' But it is ilill urged, that the Service of her
* Majefty, and Safeguard of out own fcives, is
* ptovicTed for hereby j furely, by your honourable
' Patience, I will attempt to prove, that by this
* Grant her Majefty's Service (hall be raiher hin-
* dred than forwarded j andourfelves rather endan-
' gered than fecured. It was very gravely and
' wifely delivered unto us in her Majefty's Prefence,
' at the Beginning of this Parliament, by my Lord
' Chancellor, ^od tutitis Fide, quiim Ferra rtg-
' nant Rtges. And furely, if Auro were put in
* the Place of Ferra, the Sentence were notwith-
* ftandbg neverthelels true. For it is not the A-
* bundance of Treafure, nor the Multitude of Pof-
* iel&ons, neither the infinite Number of Men,
' which maintain and elbblifli a King in hit
* Throne, but the Faith, Love, Loyalty and Con-
* lentment of his People and Subjefls, which as
* her Majefty hath hitherto, from her firft Augu-
* ration, molt defervedly had; and that as fully and
* amply, as ever had any Prince in Europi: So
* were it greatly to be lamented, that now through
* our Debates, any fuch Dilt:on(ent (hould be bred
' in the Minds and Hearts of her People ; wherc-
* by their accuftomed Affeitions towards her might
' receive the leaft Diminuiion. And farely, who-
* foever they be, that by new and flrange Exac-
* tions on the People, fhall go about to fill up the
•Prince's Coffers, may perhaps plcale the Prince,
* by ferviog his Turn for the Time, but fliall in
93(5 TheTarliamentary HiSTORr
uEliulicth. * the End be found to have done him, bat bad Sep"
isM-9 . < yi(^ Yhe Anl'wer of the Emperor Tiberius uit.
* to his ^'Jion, or Tteafureis ; which perfuaded
* him for the Repairing of the Treafury, to load
' the Provinces with Tribute, is worthy eternal
' Memory; which was, that it was Boni Paflori)
* tonitre Ovis, nen autem deglubert. And the Prac-
' tice of the Romans, while Hanniba! belieged their,
' City, is of all Nations worthy to be imitated.
' For being hardly preft by the Siege, and their'
^common Treafure quite cxhaulted, the Senate
' took Counfel togetlier for the Redrefs of thefe
*Mifchief3: Some of them perfuading, like Ti-
* berius's Treafurers, that the People were_ to be
* charged with a Subftdy or Impolition. But the
* greater and wiferSortCwhofe Authority alfo pre-
* vailed) would by no Means alTent thereunto ;
' thinking it, (efpecially in that Time of Extrcmi-
' ly^ moft inconvenient by new Taxes and Impo-
' fitions, to difcontent the People, in whom the
' Strength and Defence of their Cily confided.
' And what did they ? Why, they decreed that a
' Contribution fliould be made by Way of a Bene-
' volenee. And they themfelves would fitft gd
* unto the 7ri%mvirss Menfarios, which were Offi-
' cers appointed for that Receipt ; and there bellow
' fo liberally of iheir own, that the inferior People
* fhould by their Example be incited to a lai^eand
'bountiful Contribution. But what followed 2
' The People, as the Story faith, came in fo feft,
' and the Money in fuch Abundance, Ut nee Trh
' umviri Menfarti accipiends, nic Striba re/trindef
' fiifficerent. It is wririen by Livy in the 26ih
' Book, and needelh no Application. Only this
* I would wifli to be conlidered, whether if wc
' {hould by Extremity be put to the like Shift for a
' Benevolence, before the Payment of this latter
' Subfidy, the Grant of this would not do greater
■ Hun to that Contiibuiion, than ftfelf could do
' good, when it (hall be paid.
' I could with Enumeration and Amplification
^ of the Inconvcnienees, which may grow by this
•loHblt
I
r
O/^ E N G L A N D. 337
' double Subfidy detain you longer than cither it is QaeenEli^WK.
I
fit for me to fpeak, or pleafiiig for you to hear.
' But I will haften !o an End. It may be objcd-
* ed, Tha[ this Sublidy c.nnot be an Occafion of
* anyfuch Grievance or Dilconteiit, as is fpoken
',of; or if it were, that the Sharpnefs thereof
* is well allayed and tempered by the prolonging of
* the Payment. Surely, it may be, that all, or
* the moft Pari of this honourable Houfe, who,
■ both in refpeft of iheir Ability, may, and by
* reafon of their liberal Education and great Wif-
* dom will, fubmit ihemfelves unto it : It is a
* light and ealy Burihen, and accounted but for
* aFlea-fiiting. But unto the People, and needy
* Countrymen, to the Attiiicer, whofe Treafureia
" always in his Hand, (foi whom we do lit hero
* more principally than for ourfelves) under pDr-
* reiStOfi, it cannot be accounted but fora Punifli-
* ment.
' Samuel, in the Oration which he made unto
* the Ifraelites, when they would needs have a
* King,amongoLher Burthens, which he told them
* they ihould bear under that Kind of Gorem-
* ment, accounteth the Payment of the Tenth of
* their Seed, iheir Vineyards, and their Sheep-
* Which may prove, that then it was reckoned for
* a Pain. And the Suits, Exclamations, Com-
' plaints, and Lamentations, of the Commons of
* this Realm, well known to the moft Part of this
* HoUfe, which they make either at the Allelling,
' or Collection of thefe Subfidies, or both, doth
* fufficiently teflify unto us, that they account ic
* now a Punilhment. And as for the prolonging
* of the Payment, I am fo far from thinking that
' it is any Mitigation of the Punifhmeni, that I
* am rather perfwaded, that it is cncreafed thereby.
* As it is well faid of Seiieia, in the beftowing of
* Benefits, .^wffi/i'i (^fl/, quicitodat; fo it is aS
* truly fpoken of another, in the inflifling of Pu-
* ni&ments, Dilatio pcenes eft Duplicatio pwna -,
* and of another, That the irrevocable Sentence of
* Death being once pronounced, it is MifirUordia
Vob. IV. Y ' gmas.
:SM-9i
33S The Tarluimmtary Histort m
' gtnui chii ocddcre. Neither have I heard any great
* Reafon why the Pains of Hell are intolerable, but
' becaufe they are perpetual : For Mahrum fen-
' [m accrefcit die : And, Levi ijl miferias ferre^
' perferre gruvi.
' Seeing then that it is apparent, that this Im-
' pofuion, how much the greater it (hall be, by fo
' mjch the more grievous it will be to the mean,
' ignorant, and untaught Commons of this Land;
' who bend all their Thoughts and AiStions to the
' procuring andmaintaiiiLng of their private Com-
' modity i and feeing , that their long Meditati-
' on thereon will encreafe and double this their
* Grief and PuniCiment, and that no Man, how
* vi-clj-natured ornurtered foever he be, can Well
* content himfelf with Pain and Griefj I hope
' you lee as clearly as you hear, that the Sufafidy
' required by this Bill to be granted, muft, after,
* breed a Difcontent in the Minds and Hearts of
* licrMajefty's People. Of which their Difcon-
' tenement, whatmightenfue and follow, I would
' be very loth to divine. Whit if a Dearth of
' Viftuals? What if Reltraint of Traffic, by
' Means of Wars? What if thereby Occafion
' flioulJ be given to feditious and traiterous Whif-
* perets, to augment and encreafe it F
' Sure I am, that hereof could follow no good
' Service to her Majefty ; no great Safety to our-
* felves ; no Benefit to the Commonwealth. But
* we fliould then all, too late, cry, fFst be ta them
* that hmght the firfl Spark to the Kindling of this
' Fire. And it hath often been proved heretofore,
* by Experience, that Money, this Way obtained
* from the People, hath b^en fpent in greater
' Meafure in the pjcifying them of whom it
* was collefted.
' The Precedent, befides, may be dangerous,
' both to ourfelves and our Poilerity. For we
* commonly fee, ihat in all Counfelsand Delibera-
* tions, a Precedent is a forceableand ItandingAt-
' gument. And it was a wile and true Saying,
' that Diuturniiiii tempsris effiivt poteji., itt quoi
* ptT-
t
W 0/ E N G L A N D. 3J9
* perniciors mare el exempts convaluit, potentiia 'Pfi Q^^^^fXiii)K^'
* Lege dominetur. And altho' I have before gran- ijSS-g.
' led you, by Way of Conceflion, that her Ma-
' jefty's Will and Commandment is a ncceflary
* Argument, to perfuade us to the Pafiing of this
* Bill ; yet, left it may be thought of more abfo-
' luteNeceiTKy, than (lerhaps ilisrequiliteitfliould
' be i I will fct down a Precedent or two, which
' in the like Cafes, have, in this Houfe, been
' determined heretofore.
' In the 35. Hen. 3. a Parliament was fummon-
' cd ; wherein was required an extraordinary Re-
,' paration of the King's Treafury, by aSubiidy.
'.,* The Commons, becaufc this Demand was great-
* icr than ufually had beta paid, would grant no
F Subfidy at all (a).
• Thus I have prefumed to deliver my Opinion,
' hoping that if any thing have efcaped me, worthy
' Reprehenfion, through Ignorance, it (hall be ex-
' cufed by reafon of mine Infancy in this Pradtice
' of Speaking: If any Part of my Speech may re- ,
* ceive a double Conftruflion, it may be defended
* by your btft Interpretation.
The Grant of a Supply being oblained and paf- j
fed both Houfes, this Parliament, foon after, drew '
10 a Conclufiun, without any other Thing, of
Confequeoce to ibis Hiftory, being tranfafled in it.
Except that, on the laft Day of the Seflionsi
March zgth, a Meira'e was brought irom the
Lords, that their Lorufliips defired the Lower
Houfe to concur with them in Opinion, * That
fince moft of aU thofe Trealbns, which had beea
pitafiifed againft her Msjeily, had cither been plotted
in Spain, or procured by Spain ; and that all the
Rebellions, either in Engiatid or Ireland, during
her Majefty's Reign, had been countenanced from
iheoce; and, as the tJplhot of all, hia late in-
tetided ambitious and blood-thlrfty Conqueft, yet
frefli in Memory, might be added : Her Majefty
OL^ht to be defired to denounce open War againffi
Yj lh«
iv) Thit goe» no fuitlur, tho' it ftems 60 wam fomsthioa>
r
340 'The 'Tarliamentary History
Q^MnEliabtth.^'^'^ '^'"5 °^ Spain, as againft a moft dangwous
ijgg-9. Enemy 10 her Maielly and her Realms.'
On which Meff,-ge it was refolved, upon the
Queflion, ' That this HoiiTe would join viih their
BoihHoufciiis- Lord(hips in requefting her Majefty to denounce
Jf j^,',,^"War as aforelaid ; and that ihe Speaker fhould
jsiinil Spain, deliver Ihe fame to her on prelenting the Supply,'
And, that very Day. her Majcfty being come 10
the Upper Htiufe, the Speaker went up with the
Bills, and, in his Speech, moved the Queen to
denounce open War agalnit the Span-Jh King, who
had fo lately threained Deftruftion to her Majefty
and ihele Realms by his open and hoftilc Invafion.
Then, after giving the Royal Aflent to the Bills,
The Piriiament being fixteen publick Afts and eight private, Sir
diflblvtd. Chrippktr mum, Knt. Lord Chancellor, by
the Queen's CommanJ, diflolved this Parliament-
Tha' Mr Cambdm takes no Manner of Notice
of the Calling or Meeting of the laft Parliament,
yet he haih left us fome Account how the Money
was laid out, which was raifed thereby. ' ThQ"J
fays he, the Queen always paid ihe firft Regard tH|
Peace, yet Jhe was not unco^icerncd about the n^l
ccHary Provifions for War [b). And, that flie^
might not be furprized by the Spaniardii Die levied
frefli Forces, in the Beginning of the Spring, both
Tbe <t;eWs '" England iXxA. heUnd. She fortitied feveral Pla-
peiit Eipencei. CCS in the latter Kingdom, tmA Mllford- Haven in
fVales, with new Ramparts. Towards the Repair
of her Navy, (he appoinfed the annual Sum of
8970 Pounds Sterling. She lent very large Sums,
on Securities, to fupport the War, under the King
ci Niivair,\n Ger'rinny ; as well as for levying
Forces to he under the Command of the Prince of
Jiihdh. BefiJes all this, flie paid, every two
Months, to ihe Garrilbns of the two cautionary
Towns, Ftujhlng aud Bn/l, 125,000 F/erint ; be-
L fides 26,0-10 more for fupporting a Body of three
ihoufand Horle and Foot, which feived in the Ne-
therlandi. Moreover, ihe furnilhed out Ships of
War_
{b) Kn
(i) KiB-nttVul, SU f.i:
■ 0/ E N G L A N D. 341
War to feveral Paris ; and was at vaft Expence in . . ^
oppoiing [he Attempts of ihe Pope and tlie King of "^gs", *
Spain, in Scotland ; and difcharged all the Arrears
flie owed her Subjects, beyond Expeftation, Info-
much, that many wondered whence fhe pro-
cured fo much Money, to anfwer all Emergen-
cies ; confidering {he ran not in Debt, as moft o-
therPiincesdo, and was in a Capacity to lupport
herfelf and Kingdom without any Foreign Affift-
srice. A Thing that could not be faid of any of
ihe neighbouring Princes.*
la her private Expences, our Author writes,
fhe was provident and frugal, never fpending any
ihing, but to keep up her Royal Charaifier, the
Defence of the Kingdom, and the Relief of her
Neighbours. The Revenues of the Cuftoms had
been farmed, for fome Years, at J4,odoI- a Year ;
but, being inlormed of the Fraud, (he fir ft railed
them 1043,000, and afterwards to 50,000!. and
made the Perfoii, who had had fo sood a Bargain,
pay a confiderable Sum belides. This fhe did, con-
rtrary to the Advice of her three Prime Miniflers,
jCpitfiir, tfalfingham, and Burleigh j wlio, with-
oyt Doubt, had been no fmall Sharers in it.
Our Biographer declares, 'That his Queen ever
abhorred all Afls of Extortion and vigorous De-
mands of Taxes and Comribuiions.' — Whether
fhe or her Miniftry demanded it, is uncertain ;
but, 'tis fure shere never was fo much given in
any Reign before. He adds, ' That the Laying a •
Pelt'Tax, which had been propofed in the Reign
oi Edward V\- i^it would never fuffer to be io
much as mentioned. Befides, the People were al-
ways cheerful in paying their Subfidies ; and, tho'
the Afleflments, Chen in Ufe, fesmcd to be fome-
what moreburdenfometharrin former Times, yet,
was it managed with all the Candour imaginable,
and no rigorous Exaftions made. Infomuch, that
IT^xes were then a Kind of free Contributions, and
always laid beneath theEftimation ol the Govern-
rticnt i nay, the Queen's Method was torefer it
b« " "■ ■
ifr ParlUmcnt, fo 10 order that the Rich might
bear
1
the
tiafS
544 The T aril anient liry History
Q^„„P]j„i,j,j,_ beat the greaterfhareof the Burden, and the Poor
ij9«-3. be eafed ; which had been dene as early as the
Time of ^f'fAori^ the Second. Bin iliis Method
was found to be wrong; for upon a fair Computa-
tion, it appeared, that the Taxes would amount"
to an inconfiderable Sum, fiiould Men of fmall^
Eftates, by far the grea[er Number, ard luch a
were called Peund-A-iert, (0) pay any thing (hort of
what they ufeJ to do.
This Digreflion, it is hoped, will not be judged
inconfiitent with the Defign of thefe Inqpiries s .
fince we are here told, in tome Meailire, no(^
pnly how Taxes, in ihefe Days, were levied ; butS
likewife how they were laid out.— But whether our.]
Biographer's Syftems will agree with the more aii^
thentic Exiradts from the Jeurtiah, mufl; be left t^
the Reader's Judgment.
We have now a Gap of Time, of near fourj
Years, and nothing material tofi!l it up with. For,T
^nno Rfgni 35, jj ^gj j^^j ^jj] j[,g Year 1592-3, that we meet -
At wrfhn^nftet. "'th a Call of another Parliament ; when, the Ne-
ceflities of the State again requiring a Supply, Writs
of Summons were fent out for one to meet, at
fFeJfminJiir, the 19th Day of February, i
35ih Year of this Reign.
At which Time and Place the Queen came I
the Hcufe of Lords, and, the Commons being cat
led up, Sir Join Puckering, Kt, then Lqrd-KeetH
er of the Great Seat, declared the Caule of I
ThtLo,dKfe ^""inioi'Sj 10 this EffeG ; (^)
« Puckcfinjr ' Heflicwed,in the firft Place, the Antiquity, Na- .
^pcechatOFen-* ture, and Ufe of Pailiaments. Then he fet forth
iilg the Scflioa
L
' as the principal Matter, (which her Majefty did
* defile to have made known and nianifell to all
* her loving Subjeds) ilie great Malice of the King
* of Spain, v'hich he had towards this Realm,
Yj * and_
tti Prababty Land'holiln's of Twenty Shillines, pir At
(r) The Heads or Inflruflions for this Spetch,
(It!, vicri drawn lip by theLo.d Trial'ii
liildd from his MSS. tj Mr 5/r,f(. As
Pag. 114-
r
0/
ENGLAND., 343
and this he fhewed, by fundry Inflances; as ihe^^^^
laft intended Invafion, his P'orccs then addreiled :
* out of ihe Lmv-Caunti-ies for that Purpore, to
* have been conduced by the Duke of Parma, &c.
' And fhen he proceeded in thereftof hisOration,
' lo the Purpofe following :
* The high and mighiy Ships that then he
* prepared and fent for that PurpOfe, becaufe
* he found them not fir for our Seas and fuch an
* Attempt, he isbuildingShipsofa lefs Bulk, after
* another Faftiion ; fome like Fremb Ships, fome
* like the Shipping oi England ; and many hath
* he gotten out of the /.flw-Cwn(n>j. Heisnow,
* for the better Invading of England, Planting
* him in Brisaity, a Country of more Facility to
* oSnd us than the Low-Countries ; clierc he
* hath fortified himfelf in the moft Sirong-Holda
* of that Country.
• Xn Scotland he hath, of late, wrought moft of
* the Nobility to confpire againft their King ; to
* give Landing to his Forces there ; and to aflift
* him in his Innfion thither. A greater Part of
* the Nobility in Scotland be combined in this
' Confpiracy, and they have received great Sums
' ofMoney fortheirService therein. And to af-
' furc the King of Spain of their Alliftance, they
' have (igned and fent their Promifes, fealed, to
' the King. . -
' This Confpiracy the King of S«/i was hardly
' brought to believe, but that her M^jefty adver-
' lifed him thereof, having entertained Intelligence
' thereof, as flie hath of all Things done and in-
■ tended in thofe Parts. And that the Kingmight
' better advjfc thereupon, her Majefty hath fent
' one ol her Noblemen now into Scotland; and
' the King halh afl"ur'd her M.yefty, with all his
' Ability and Endeivour, to prevent ihe Spaniard,
■ whofe Purpofe is on the North Partato allault uj
■ fay Land, and, on the South Side, to invade us
■ by Sea ; which is the mott dangerous Pradifc that
' toulJ be devifcd againil us. And now the Rage
of this Enemy being fuch, his Forces join'd with
»«*-^ ■ -*■ ■•■•■■ « other
344 TheTarliameiitary Histo rt
(lg««nEliiilieih, J Older Princes, his Adherents, greater ; iheChai_
>S9»-r ^ of her Majefty, for Defence of her Realm, bo&j
^ with Forces by Sea, and Armies bv Land haih
been fuch, as hath boih fpent the ContribLitiotti
ofherSubjcifls, by Subfidies, anij what otberwifei
' they offeied lier; and alfoconfumed herTreii- '
* fure ; yea, caufed her lo fell Part of her High-
* nels's Crown. And, it is not to be inarvellGd^
' how all this is confumed, but rather to bCj
* thought how her Majefly could be able to mairi-
* tain and defend this her Realm, againft fo many
* Realms confpiredagainfl us,
' Wherefore, we, her MajcHy's Subjeftj, muft,
* wiih all dutiful Coniideraiion, ihink what is
' fit for us to do ; and, with all Willirgnefs,
* yield Pan of our own, for the Defence of o-
* thers, and Affiftance of her Majefty, in fuch an
' infupponable Charge. Wereihe Caufebelwecn
' Friend and Friend, how much would we do for.
' the Relief of one another ? But the Caufe is
* now between our Sovereign and ourfelves : See-
' ing there is lo much Difference in the Parties,
' how much more forward ought we to be ? The
* Aid that formerly hath been granteij unto her
' Majefty in ihefe liliLe Cafes, is wilh fuch Slack-
* nefs perfotni'd, as that the Third of what hath
* been granted, Cometh not to her Majefty. A
,* great Shew, a rich Grant, and a long Sura, fecm-
r eth to be made, but it is hard to be gotten, and
Ij' the Sum notgieat which ispaid. Her Majeftjf
l' thinkelh this to be, for that the wealthier Sort
i' of Men turn ihis Charge upon the weaker, and .
* and upon thofe ofworfl Ability; for that one.""
* difchargfth himfelf, and the other is not able
* faiisfy what he is charged withal.
• Thele Things fhould be reformed by fuch as
' are Comer iflioners in ihisprelentService-
' HerMajeity further hath willed me to iigni^
» unto you, I hut ihc Calling of this Parliament now,
* is nut for die making of anv more new Laws
S and Si.iiuies, for there are already a fufficient
*,^umbc^ boih of Ecclefiaftical and Temporal ;
i
Of E N. G L A N D. 345
* and fo many there be, rhat rather than to hur- QutenEiiiii
' then the Subjeftswith more, to their Grievance, »59»-3-
it were fitting an Abridgment were made of ihofe
there are already.
' Wherefore it is her Majefty's Pleafure, that
the Time be not Ipent therein : But, the princi-
pal Caufe of this Parliament is, that her Majefty
might confult with her Subjetas for the better
wiihftanding of thofe intended Invafions, which
are now greater than were ever heretofore heard
of. And whereas heretofore it hath been ufed,
* that many have delighted themfelves in long O-
* rations, full of Verbofity and of vain Often-
' tations, more than in fpeaking Things of Sub-
* ftance ; the Time that is precious fhould not be
* thus fpent. The Seflions cannot be long, by
^ reafon of the Spring-Time, 'tis fit that Gentle-
* men {hould repair to their Countries ; the Ju-
* ftices of AiTizealfo logo to their Circuits. So
* the good Hours fhould not beloft in idie Speeches,
.'* but the little Time we have Ihould be beftowed
J* wholly on luch B;ifmefles as are needful to be
p-confidcred of.' And then defir'd them to elefl a
linker.
Feb. s2. The Queen being come again to the
Upper Houfe, the Commons prefenCed the famous ^'**'^'''"''^''<ii"
Edward Coke, Efq; Sollicitot-General, as iheir'^''"''"' ^"f"'"''-
.Speaker; who, being placed at the Bar of the Houfe,
■ delivered himfelf as follows;
OUR Majefty's moft loving Subje£ls, the„|^s Mrhtoihe
_ Knights, Citizens, and Buigefles, of the qi;»n 'th=i=- '
Houfe of Commons, have nominated me, your"?**-
;t
'• Grace's poor Servant and Subjedl, to be their
^ " Speaker. Tho' their Nomination hath hitherto
• proceeded, that they prefent me to fpeak before
• your Majcrtyi Yet this their Nomination is,
• only as yet, a Ni>mination and no Ejeflion, un-
' til your Majelly givc'ih Allowance and Appro-
r* bation. For, as in the Heavens, a Star is but ops-
Bt' eum Carpus, uniil it have received Light from the
pi* Sufl i fo ftand 1 Cerpui epacum, a mute Body,
' until
1
r
34(5 7he Parliamentary HisToRr
«BWinb(!ih. ' "ntil your Highnefs's bright-fhining Wifdom
1591-J. * hath looked upon me, and allowed me. How
' great a Cha^ this is, to be the Mouth of fuch a
* Body as your whole Commons reprefent, to ut-
' ter what is fpoken, Grandia Rig/si, my fmall
* Experience, being a poor Profeilbr of the Law,
* can tell. But, how unable I am to do this Of-
* iice, my prefent Speech doth lell, that, of 3.
* Number in this Houfe, 1 am moft unfit. For,
' amongft them are many grave, many learned,
* many deep wile Men, and thofe of ripe Judg-
' ments; But I am untimely Fruit, not yet ripe,
* but a Bud fcarcely bloflbmed. So, as I fear me,
' your Majefty will fay, NeglcSla frugi eliguntur
' folia : Amongft fo many fair Fruit ye have
' plucked a ihaking Leaf.
' If I may be fo bold as to remember a Speech,
' f which I cannot forget) ufed the laft Parliament,
' in your Majefty's own Mouth, Many come
* hither ad coajulendum gai nefciunt quid fit cunfu-
' t/ndum i a juft Reprehenfion to many as to
' myfelfalfo, an untimely Fruit, my Years and
* Judgment ill befitting the Gravity of this Place.
' But, howfoever, I know myfelf the meaneft, and
' inferior unto all that ever were before me in this
* Place; yet, in Faithfulnefs of Service, and Duti-
' fylncfs of Love, I think not myfelf inferior to
' any that ever were before me. And,araidil my
' many Impcrfeilions, yet this is my Comfort ;
' I never knew any in this Place, but if your Ma-
* jefty gave them Favour, God, who called them
* to the Place, gave them alfo the Bleiling to dif-
* charge it,'
The Lord Keeper having received Inflrufliona
from the C^een, anfwcred him :
Mr SoUkiter,
* Tjr E R Grace's Moft Excellent Majefty hath
Anit!)"''"' Jri willed me to fignify unto you, that
' ihe hath ever well conceived of you iince fho
' firft heard of you, which will appear, when her
* fiighnefs elected youfiom others to ferveherfelf.
< But
__^L^B
0/ E N G L A N D. 547
* But, by this your modeft, wife, and well-com- qu(„ EllHbeth
' pored Speech, you give her Majefty fui iher Oc- 'sgx-j.
cafion loconceivcof you, above that which ever
{bethought was in you ; by endeavouring to de-
ject and abafc yourfelf and your Defert, you have
difcovered and made known your Wonhinefs
and Sufficiency to difcharge the Place you are
catted CO. And, whereas you account yourfelf
Corpus apacuiiii her Majefty, by the Influence
* of her Virtueand Wifdom, dothenlighten you ;
and not only alloweth and approveth you, but
much thanketh ihe lower Houfe, and commen-
deth their Difcretion in making fo good a Choice,
f and etefting fo fit a Man. Wherefore now,
* Mr Speaker, proceed in your Office, and go
* forward, to your Commendation, as you have
* begun.'
The Lord Keeper's Speech being ended, the
Speaker began a new Speech.
* ^"^Onlidering the great and wonderful Blef-
* V^ fi°gs, belides the long Peace wc have en- ^''^.^P"''"''
* joy'd under your Grace's moft happy and vie- "'' *'
* torious Reign, and remembring with what Wif-
* dom and Jufticeyour Grace hath reigned over
' us, we have Caufe daily to praife God that e-
* ver you were given us j and the Hazard that
* your Majefty hath adventured, and the Charge
* that you have born for us and our Safety, ought
* to make us ready to lay down ourfelves and all
* our Living, at your Feet, to do you Service.
* After this he rel-iledthe great Attempts of ber
* Majefty'sEnemies againftus, cfpecially ihePepe,
* and the King of Spain, who adhered unto him.
* How wonderfully we were ddiver'd in Eighly-
* Eight, and what a Favour God therein mamfeft-
* unto her Majefty.
' His Speech, after this, [ended wholly to (hew,
* out of the Hiftory of England and the old State,
* how the Kings of England^ evei fines Hetiry the
' Thiid'a Tune, have maintained themfelves to be
< (he Supreme Head over all Caufes within their
'own
J48 The Tarl'mmentary History
H Q^tcnEBiabcth. * own Dominions. And then reciting the Laws
■ *S8»-3- * that every one made in his Time, for maintaining
K . * their own Supremacy, and excluding the Pu^^, he
H ' drew down this Proof by a Statute of every King
H ' (ince Henry the Third to Edward the Sixth.
B * This cndfd, he came to fpcak of Laws, that
^ ' they were fo great, and fo many already, that they
' were fit to be lermed E/ephanlina Liges. Ther&«
' fore to make more Laws it might feem fupcrfiuij
* oiis. Anil to him that might ask, ^uid caujaim
' trefiant tot magna vohimina Ligh ? It may be an-
* {weredy h prompiu tau/a ij}, crefiit in orbe ma-
* lum.
' TiK'Malicc of our Arch-Eneny, the Devil,
* though it were always great, yet never greater
' than now ; and that Dolus et Malum being crept
' in fo far amongft Men, it was requifite that (harp
' Ordinances fhould be provided to prevent them,
* and all Care be ufed for he^ Mnjefty's Prefer-
' vation.
< Now am I to make unto your Majefty three
' Petitions, in the Name of the Commons ; firft,
' That Liberty of Speech, and Freedom from Ar-
' refts, according to the antieni Cuflom of Par-
' liamenr, be granted to your Subjeds ; Secondly,
' That we may have Accefs unto vour Royal P(
' fon, to prefent thofe Things that ihali be confide. ^
' eJ amongft us ; Laflly, 1 hat your Majefty will
» give your Royal AiTtnC to ihe Things that
' are agreed upon. And, for myfelf, I humbly
' befeech your Majefty, if any Speech fhall fall
' from me, or Behaviour found in me. not decent
' and fit, it may not be Imputed Blame upon the
^ ' Houlc, but laid upon me, and pardoned in me.'
Tlic L. K«pn*5 ' To this Speech, the Lord-Keeper, having re-
ftnilitr Anfwtr. ceived new Inftruflions from the Queen, made his
Reply. ' In which he firft commended the Speaker
* greaily for it ; and then he added fome Examples
* of Hiftory for the King's Supremacy in Hen, 2.
' and otlier Kings before the Conqueft. As to the
*■ {l^liv^fa^ice we received front our Enemies, ai4 -
I our enemies, aan .^y
I 0/ E N G L A N D. 34P
Wf Ae Peace we enjoyed, the Qycen would have the Quran Eiiubetli,
mf Praife of all thoie attributed lo God only. "^'i-a-
m * And, touching the Commendatioiis given to
' herfc!f,ftiefaid, ' Well might we have a wifcr
" Prince, but never fhould they have one that
*' more regarded them, and in Jufticc would carry
" an evener Stroke, without Exception otPerfons;
" Tuch a Prince the wifh'd ihey might always
*' have.*
* To your three Demands the Queen anfwer-
' eth ; Liberty of Speech is granted yoii ; but
' how far this is to be thought on, there be two
* Things of molt Neceility, and thofe two do
' moftHarm, which are Wit and Speech: The
* one exercifed in Invention, and the other in ut-
' tering Things invented. Privilege of Speech is
* granted, but you muftknow what Privilege you
' have ; not to fpeak every one what he lifteth,
' or wiiat cometh in his Brain to utier ihat ; but
* your Privilege is, jiye or No. Wherefore,
* Mr Speaker, her Majelly's Pleafure is. That if
* you perceive any idle Heads, which will not fticlc
' to hazard their own Eltates i which will meddle
' with reforming ihe Church, and transforming
I* the Commonwealth; and do exhibit any Bills to
• fuch Purpofe, that you receive them not, until
• they be viewed and conlidered by thofe, who it is
' fitter fliould confider of fuch Things, and can
' better judge of them.
' To yourPerfons all Privileges is granted, with
• thia Caveat, that under Colour of this Privilege,
* no Man's Ill-Doings, or not performing of Duties,
* be covered and proieifted.
*■ Thelaft; Free Accefs is granted to her Ma-
* jetty's Perfon, lb that ii be upon urgent and
* weighty Caufes, and at Times convenient i and
* whenherMajefty may be at Leifure from other
' important Caufes of the Realm."
* The firft Bill we find brought into the Hoofe
€)f Lords, of any Note, was for the Reltraining of^|
Pepi^ i^CH^sri to fome certain Places of Abode.*'
The
againit Pa<
350 The Tarliawetitary Histort
|[z>bcdi "^^^ ^'" ^'^ ^''^ introduced, under a difiercoL
j,.y ' Title, v:~. ^f Atlfor the rejlraimng anipuni^^
ing ef vugraiil and feditiaus Per/oui ; who, undti^
the ftigncd Pretence of Confiieme and Religien, fdr-'J
rupt andfeduce the ^ein'i Subje£is. Under thq
firft Title it pafledinto aLaw and was, no Doubt,
calculated lo keep up Fears againll Popery ; fbn]
no Parliament in this Reign palled without an Aft
to that Purpofe. By this hil they were confinsd—
within five Miles of their refpedive Dwellings, otI
Forfeiture of all their Goods, Chatels, and Lands, J
during Life. J
But another Religious Seft, called Puritans,^
they had much Occafion at this Time to guard a-
gainft, whofe Principles were utterly againll both
'^^'^ the Eftabliftied Church and Monarchy. The Le-
giflature look particular Notice of thefe, alfo, in
reviving a former Ailfir keeping the ^een's A&-^
jifty's Suifeifs in their due Obedience.
In the Preamble to this A£l, which flands l
firft ia owe Statute -Bank! for this Year, it isde-jl
dared to be made/o'' the preventing c '
ef/acb great Inisnveniences and Pei ih, as might hap
pen and grow by the wicked and dangertus Pra^^
tei offedilious Seiiariei, and dijloyal Perjsns. The
Aft itfelf ran, * That if any Peifon, above tbt
* Ageoffixteen Years, ihall refufe to repair to
* fome Church, or forbear to do the fame for tb^H
' Space of a Month fliali be committed toPri-*]
* fon there to remain, without Bailor Main-Pria
' 'till they fhall conform and make fuch o. ...
* Submiffionand Declaration of [heir ConfoFmit/il
' as ihe Adl appoints.' The Offenders agaii^
this Statute, who refufed to make this Submiffion,
were to abjure the Realm, and not to return with-
out her Majefty's Licence, under the Penalty of
fuffering as Felons wihout Benefit of the Clergy.
There was gieat Re.ifon for paffing this Law
againft the Puritam at this Time j they were grown
fo bold and licentious as to libel and defame both
Church and State in a very open Manner. Ona
liiihi, and lome other Enthufiafts, fared great
Of ENGLAND. 351
■ Difturbaiices ; for which, this Man, with Barrffw, QjinnEliiabetl^
Greeimoad^ and Studley, we're tried, convidted of
Higli Treafon, and executed this very Year. As
was one Penry, for writing a Book called, Martin
Mar-Prelatet XhsYent after; asjo/ji Stowe, the
feithful Chronicler of thefe Times, relates.
The Annotator on Rnpin tells us, that this
A61 met with great Oppofiiion in the Houfe of
Commons, and refers us toZ)'£it'«'s 'Journah for
the Speeches on both Sides the Queftion. But we
cannot find any fuch great Oppolition in that Jour-
nati/I's Account of it. On Fubrmry 28th, the
Bill for reducing of difloyal Subjeds to their due
Obedience, was read a lecond Time. It was level-
led, at firfi, only againft the Papifls : But, after Debate thereon.
-feme Arguments, amongft which, one Member
asked. Whether thofe that came not to Church, by
reafon of the Mifliite they had to Church -Go vern-
ment, were to be in the lame Calc witii a Popifii
Recufant? The Matter was committed to a very
confiderable Number of the Houfe, for further
CoDlideration- On the nth of Marcb, the laid
Committee brought in the Bill as belbre ; and alfo
a new one framed, on a more moderate Syltem,
which was read a hrft Time, and the old one
drop'd. The Particulars of both Bills are given
in feveral Articles, by the JoumaUJl. The next
Day, this Bil! was read again, and [hen occaiior-ed
a farther Debate j Mr. Saisdyi laid, that he
thought the Bill ought to pals, as it was firft meant,
againft All Recufants, and not reftrained to Popi/h
Eecufantsonly. And, thac, under this Bill, all
Brsivnijis, Barrowi/lr, iifc. ought to be included.
Another Member was for the Reftriition to Pap'ifii
alone J and the Speaker faid. That as the Title of
the Bill, and the Preamble, ran only againft fuch as
are Enemies to the State, and Adherents to the
Pope, other Recufants than Popifh could not be
comprifed in it ; fince another Bill might be framed
againft thofe Perfons, and thefe not included in i[.
Mr Dalian argued, that the Seftaries ought 10 be
Cin lhi9 Bill, as well as Papiils ; that the H
I
iclu- ^
3ji The Tarliamentary History
wnEliKilufh. Preamble might be altered, and be to repreftall dif-
"S91-J. loyal Subjefts, and force them to a more due Obe-
dience: Or, ir might be wholly left out, and go
diredtly lo the Aft iifelf ; for, he cited feveral Bills
overthrown by too many fuperfluous Words in
the Preamble. Dr Lswin made a long Speech a-
gaitill the Brownijls and Banoivijh ; and conclu-
ded, that they ought to be provided againft as
as Papijls : But, whether in tjits or another Bill..
left it to the Wifdom of the Houfe. After
which, the faid Bill was re-committed to the former
Committee appointed on the fecond Reading of it ;
and a new Bill framed againft difloyal Sufajefls, Wc.
both which palled the Houfe, without any more re-
markable Oppofitfon.
But, we cannot avoid taking Notice here, what
Sentimenrs Mr .Rfl/>i«hath left us concerning the
Severity of this Law, It hath been more than once
taken Notice of, in the Courfe of ihefe Enquiries,
how ftrangeiy negligent, that celebrated Writer of
EfigUJh Hiftory hath been, in giving i he Proceedings
of £«^/;;/5 Parlt^iments. And, in the Courfe of
this very ReigB, we fliould fcwce know, by bis
Performsnce, there was any called, wereitnot that
his Tranflator, Mr Tindal-, hath drawn a ftiorr
Account of ihem into his Notes- Bm now, the
laft-mentioned Afl of Parliament, againft Puritant,
fires his Retentmcnt. The Hardfhips the Dillen-
Iersof£'Jjii'?'/fuBered, by this A£t, are painted in
very ftrong Colours ; and the Profecution ofthem
laid on the Englijh Epifcopal Clerjjy. Nay, this
Prateflant Queen, herlelf, for this and other Seve*
rities againft the Puritans, is treated, fay this Hif-
torian, in a very coarfe Manner, throughout the
whole Series of her Reign. We are perfuaded We
cannot do this Author more Juftice than to Itan-
fcribe his whole Paragraph ; and leave any further
Judgment of it to the Impartiality of our Readers.
' The Parliament meeting in Feiruary, 1593,
pafled an Aft, which troubled not only the Catho-
iicks, but even Profeftants who diflered in certaiB
Points from the Church of ^''f^W, and were ca^
led
r
0/ E N G L A N D, 3S3
ei Puritans. By ih'a Ad, thofe who negledtedO!;'*"^"''''^''
to be preCeiit at Divine Service, eftabliOied by Law, 'S9*-j-
w^re liable to certain Penalties ; and fo, not only
(Was it no longer permitted to be a Romao-Caiho-
■lick with Impunity, but even a Proleftan: with-
out conforming to the Church of England. ThusMi. Ripia'sRe-
in fome Meal'iire were renewed the Diys of Hen- ni<ft<sonth=Biil
ry VIII. when it was unlawful lo fwerve ever fo ^^''"* ^'^''^^'
little from the Religion of the Sovereign ; with
this Difference, that under El'zabeth the Penalty
was not Death, as in the Reign of her Father.
Nevcrihelefs there was in this laft Aci fome-
thing more hard than in thole of Henry VIII.
That Prince, abfolute as he was, contented hitn-
felf with punifh'mg fuch as, by fome Overt-A£t,
oppofed the eftablifhed Religion ; bui by ibis new
Sututc, the Subjefts were obtigeil openly to pro-
fefe the Religion of the Church of England. El'i-
zabeiht exalperaced againti the CatMicks, who
had made frequent Attempts upon her Crown and
even her Li!e, ivLuld have been very glad to have
cleared the Kingdom of them. On the other
Hand, (he could not endure the Puritans, looking
upon them as obflinate People, who fiir very frivo- ,
lous Caufesbreda Schifm in thePro'eftant Church.
Whilft (he was in Danger from the Queen of Scats,
France, and Spain -, in a Word, whilil her Af-
fairs remained in a Sort of Uncertainty, ihe left the
Puritans unmolefted, for fear of uniting them in
the fame Intereft with the Catholicks. But no
fooner was (he firmly eftablifbed, but (he hearken-
ed to the Suggeftions of the Clei^y, who reptefen-
led llie Puritans as fediiious Perfiins, who rebelled
againft the Laws, and by their Difobedience (hook
the Foundations of the Government. This is not
the only Time, nor is England the only Slate,
where Difobedie nee in l^oicit of Religion has been
confounded with Rebellion againft the Soveieign.
There isfcarce a Chriftian Siaie, where the Pre-
vailing Sed will fufFer the luaft Divilion, or the
lea(l Swerving from the eftabliihed Opinions ; no,
K)t even in private; Shall^ venture to fay it ?
■^ Vol. IV. Z 'Tis
f
354 The Tarliametitary a istoKX ^
-,^^ j,;^jj^,j,/Tis l\ie Clergy chiefly wbo fupport this ftrange
ij9»-J- ' Principle of Non-Tokralion, fo little agreeable to
Chrillian Charity. TheSeveritv which from this
Time began to be exercifed in England upon the
Non-Conformifts, produced terrible Effeifts in the
following Reigns, and occaiioned Troubles and
Fadlions, which remain lo this Day, and of which
perhaps there will be no End ihefe m.iny Years.'
But, to proceed, on much beticr Authority,
TliB HoufE of The Lords JflurBfl/j tell us, that J^d«/j nth, this
Loidi m^ke i Seffion, on a Motion of the Bifliop of fForujUr;
(hJ^Rflief" oT 'li^ Lords condefcended to a Contribution, for the
imimMSoliJicn. Relief of fuch poor Soldiers, as went begging about
*=• the Streets of Lenfffln, after thb Rate. That eve-
ry Earl Ihould give 40s. every Bifhop 30 s. every
Baron 20s. and appointed the faid Bilhop oilVor-
ajler and the Lord Norrh^ Colleftors ; and the
Earl of EjfexzxiA the Lord JViUmghby^ Diftttbutors
thereof. Thefe laft Lords had been Generals a-
broad, and therefore propereft to disburfe this Cha-
rily. But the Matter Jid not reft here ; for, on
the 9th day a'i April, another Entry is made. That,
• Whereas the Lords ot Parliament, bolh Spi-
' ritual and Temporal, afTembled, in the Pailia-
' ment-Chamber, at IVtHminJlir , have all. with
' uniform Confeni, in their own Names, and the
Their OtJit ' ^^^ ^^ ""''^ I^rdsabfent, ordered, That there
iheieupon, * flioiild be a charitable Relief and Contribution
' made towards tjie Aid and Help of a Number of
* Soldiers, ihat are feen, in the Time of this Par-
' liament, maimed and fore hurt, in the Wars of
* Frame, the Lmu-CminU its, and over the Seas for
' ihe Service of the Qiieen's Majefty and this
* Realm. And for that Purpofe have allotted, that
* every Archbiflicp, Marquis, Earl, and Vifcouni,
' Ihould pay towards this Contribution the Sum of
* forty Shillings, every Biftiop tlijrty»and every Ba-
* ron twenty Shillings; for coUcfling whereof ihera
' h;ith been appointed the Queen's Majefty'sAIm-
* er, the Bifhop of Wmejlsr, for the Billiops,
* and the Lord horrh for the Lords Temporal,
which hath been diiinenilydone and received of
«all
0/ E N G L A N D. jjj
' all thofe Lords who have attendtd their greatOs"
' Charge in Parliament. And, confidering the
' Number of theSoldiers.being many to be reliev-
t * ed, iiotwith (landing the Knights, Citizens and
Eurgefles of the Lower Houfe, have yielded very
' good and large Contribution, according to their
' Degrees ; yet, for the better Relief o! the faid
' maimed Soldiers, it is by the Lords Spiritual and
' Temporal, that have given their chargeable Ac-
' tendance, and aifo charitably and honourably
' yielded to this Contribution, thought meet, and
* fo it isordered and decreed by them, with com-
' mon and fuU Afient; That all the Lords of Par-
* liament, who have been altogether abfent in this
* Selllon, and that fliallnot have contributed to this
* Charity before the End of this Seffion, Ihall be
' required, by Letters fent to ihem, by the Lords
* their Proxies in their Abfence, or from the Lord-
' Keeper of the great Seal, requiring and charging
* them, TO make Payment, according to their Dc-
' grees and Viicaiion, the Double of the Sums of
* Money paid by the Lords that have been herepte-
' fent, and continued their Attendance ; that is to
' fay. Every ahfeniEarl, with ihe Archbifhop of
' J3ri, four Pounds; every abfent Bifbop three
' Pounds; and every Baron forty Shillings. Like-
' wife, fuch Lords as have attended fometimes,
' tho' feldom, (hall, accordineto their Degrees, pay
' athlrd Part more than the Lords that are conftant
' here. All fuch Sums of Money (hall be deUver-
' ed to the Lord Keeper, and alterwards diitribu-
' ted , by fuch Lords as are chofen for that Purpofe,
' to 'the maimed Soldiers that Hand the mo(t
' in need theitof. And, as the Commons, in this
' prefent Parli.imeni, have rated theirablent Mem-
' hers double, lo we think (his Order very juft j
' conlidering the abfent Lords and others who have
' been at no Charge to come up and give ihetc
' Attendance, nuy, very reafonably, and with
' great Saving of their Charge, contribute to this
' Order. And, if any Lord, Spiritual or Tem-
' poral, fliall refufe or forbear to do this, fwhich it
Z 2 'a
35^ ^^ ^^^li^i^^^tary History
QuecnEUMbeth.* ^^^^^^ imminent, to treat with her Majefly, and ;
JS9»-3. *' with the Prelates and Great Men of the RealiUf ^
* and to give our Counfels, to as it is convenient fci
* u$ all ; firft toconfider the Perils, and tbeo togw
* CounfeL
• Therefore in difcharging of my Duty, with
* your Patience in fuffering an old Man, bcfile
* hb Years, decayed in his Spirits with Sickoeft, j
^ to declare fome Part of his Knowledge of Ac ,
* Dangers and Perils imminent ; But for Advice :
* and Counfel how to withftand the fame,.IflttO
* be conftrained, for Lack of fufficient Underftift-
* ding in fo great Caufe, to require forae further
* Conference with your Lordfhip^ or with fo maiif
< as fball appear more able than I am, to give fooe
* good Entry thereto.
^ As to the Dangers, that they be great and im-
^ minent, that they have both lately grown, aiiJ
^ likely to increafe, thefe be manifeft ArgumentSi
* Firft, the King of Spairiy fince he hath ufuiped
* upon the Kingdom of Portugaly he hath therdif
* grown mighty by gaining the Eqft Indies. Son
^ how great foever he was before, he is now thcr^
* by more manifeftly great. But for Increafc
^ hereof, to be greater j yea, greater than any Chfr
* ftian Prince hath been ; he hath lately joinri
* with his intended Purpofe, newly to invade d»
* Realm, with more Might than before he did th
^ Invafion of France^ by fundry Ways. Not as in
* former Times, when the Emperor Charles^
* the French Kings, the great Pramis and the waf*
* like Henry ^ made former Wars for Towns, thdr
* greateft Wars. Yea, when the prefent King of
f Spain had his great Army againft Heniy of firoKit
^ For in thofe Wars pone of them intended tDdi
* any thing more, but to be revenged of fuppoM
^ Injuries, by ourning or winning of fome froDCitf
^ Towns by Befieging. And after fuch ReveogA
^ mutually had to the Satisfaction of their Appe*
^ tites ; wherein neither Party had any fpecial Ad»
^ vantage, they fell to Truces, and in the End will
< KnQts fom^tim^s of Intermarriages. And I5
Of ENGLAND. ss7
' jelly's Perfon, againft the Religion and Quictnefs QaMnElkibwh,
* of the Realm. 'S9i'3'
* And therefore, leaving the Repetition of that
* Caufe, by which her Majefty was detained in a
* Kind of War, to withftnnd both the Kings of
* France and Spain^ who inlermeddlefl in the Cafe
' ofthe Queen of Smi againft her Majefty; yet
'■ there hath followed continually fuchadeadly Ma-
' lice from the King of Spain, the Eifhop of RotiHt
' and [heir Confederates, asunto this Day, wherein
' no Intermiflion hath been of Airempts againft
' her Majefty and the Realm ; altho' al fomeTime
' more vehement than at fome others 3 as appeared
' in the Year 88, by his open Armies both by
' Sea and Land ; being of greater Force than ever
* was known to be made by his Father the Emperor
' CharUs, or by himtlf, or by any Chriftian Prince
' within the Memory of Man.
* But mindingtooverpafsall the Attempts afore
' that huge Enierprlze, ihacwas fruftrate by God's
' fpecial Goodnefs beyond the Expeftation of the
' World : And confidering there hath been no Af-
' fembly of Parliament lince that Time, wherein her
' Majefty might publickly declare to the States of
' her Realm the Continuance of the former At-
' tempts, but the Increafe of more Dangers than '
' were feen in any Time before; Therefore, as
was delivered by the Lord-Keeper of the Great
' Seal, her Majefty hatb fummarily imparted the
' fame to this Aflembly, referring the Confidcra-
' tion thereof to the whole three Eflates, whereof
' two are in this Place ; how the fame Danger
may be wiiliftood, and by what Provifion her
■ Majefty and Realm may be preferved in domeftic
' Peace, as yet it is, as in a Center of HappineJs,
' where the Circumference is in open Calamity.
* And, becaufeit isaliour Parts andDuties, firft
> 10 God, and to our Sovereign Head, and our na-
■* tive Country, to apply all our Endeavour, being
• every one of us called to this Place, by fpecial
*' Commandment, in exprefs Words, upon Con-
• fideraiion of the Hardnefs of the Bufinefs, and the
Z 3 ' Perils
r
3^0 The Parliamentary Hi sTOB.y
* Of this Matter of Brifau a Man might eiilargt,
* the Danger fo great to England, as if he had at-
' tempted nothing at all in Ncrm4ndy and Frandi
* yet ilie Danger hereof might at-'pe^ir fo great, as
' ought to induce Englwid to fpare no Coft to with-
' ftand it. And herewith he is not contented to
* feek ihis Dukedom, but he deftines all his Forces
' to conquer the Kingdom of Franciy the principal
* Kingdom of Chrijltridiim: And, to aichieve hij
* Enterprize, he hath, thcfe two Years-day and
* more, corrupted, with great Sums of Money and
* large Penfions, certain fatticus Noblemen, not
* of the Bloodof iTflBcf, nor the great Officers of
* the Ctown j and by them, and with thefe Rc-
* bels, and by waging of his Soldiers in fomc of
* the principrtl Towns of Francf, as Parii, Rean^
*. Orleans, Lyons, Tekze, and others, he hath pro-
* cured a Rebellion againit the King, againft aU
^ the Princes of the Blood, againft all the great Of-
* (iters of the Crown. But finding thete Rebels
' noi ftrong enough of ihemfclves, notwithftan-
* ding they are well waged by him to withAand
» the King, he haih, to his grcjt Charges, levied
* and ilntinto trance, even to Park and Keen,
* Armies collefled of iVaUQom, Larainers, JtaHans,
' Speniatdi, Almaim, and Swiizcri. Wherewith
* he hath twice entered into France j tho' God
' gave him no ?ood Succels, but grest Lofs and
' Reprotich.
* Belides ihefe foreign Armies, fent from
' Low -Countries, hehathcaufed his Son-in-LaW/
* the Duke of Savoy, lo invade France by Pntvenct
* anif Dol^linl ; and the Duke of Larain by Bur-
' gmdy and Champaign, and to environ France.
' Further, he hath ient Armies by Sea, out of
' S^ai'«, toinvadeLd^^afi^s^. And even now atthis
i p;«'icnr, aH thefe foreign Forces are newly made
* ready w enter into all Parts of France, made by a
' colourable Affembly of the Rebels in Paris, to
' reprefent the three Mates j yet without a King,
' or a Head. He intendecb lo. be a King of that
* Realm} or to make his Daughter the Queen,
1
Z 1
and J
tbcS
0/ E N G L A N D. 361
* and to appoint her a Hulband, to be as his Qa«">Eliwl>eUt.
' Vaflal. 'M»-3-
' He hath alfothe Pope fo addiited to him, as
' he that never was wont to lend lo any Parrs but
* only Italy, by Bulls with Lead and Parchment,
^ did now levy and fend an Army into France.
* And tho' he coloureth it wiih Mailer of Defence
' of Catholick Religion, yet both heand the King
■^ of Spain make War againft all the Princes of the
* Blood, and Officers of the Realm, being found
* Catholicks. And fo they have, by their Ambaf-
' fades, lately advertis'd the Po|)e; as by the Car-
* dinal Gundy, and Marquis Pypny, ancient Coun-
* ccllors of France, and Catholicks. So as the
' Pretence of the Pope and the King of Spain, in
* that Point, ate merely France,
' Thefe are the Dangers in France, and muft
* of Confequence draw England into like Peril ;
* without God's fpecial Goodnefs, and the fp^edy
* Support to be given to her Majelty for Preven-
* tion thereof.
* Now to manifeftthe King of SpahPa Attempt
* to invade England, whereof I think no good
* Englijhman fowantofFeelingto think otherwile,
' yet I v/iU remember to you divers manifeft Ar-
* gumenis thereof ; and afterwards, to fppply the
' Want of any Man's Feeling only by Argu-
* menis or Tokens, I will declare to you the
* very Truth of his De termination, by manifeft
* Proofs. So as none ought to think, becaufe he
' Was difappointed of his Intention for the Con-
* queft of England by his huge Navy, therefore
* he will put that Difgrace up, and leave off wjih
' that Lofs. But it is certain, he hath, the two
' laft Years, builded a great Number of Ships of
* War, as near as he can lo the Mold and Qua-
* lityof the £n£/(^ Navy; finding, by Expciience,
* his monllrous great Ships not fit for our narrow . ,
■ Seas. He hath lately armed a Number of Gal-
* lie; on the Coalt of Britain, which he intendeih
s lo fend this Summer to Newhaven. He haih al-
j-^ foj thefe two Years-day, both bought and built
* great
1
36a The Parliamentary History
QBB»CRnbeth. * great Ships in Eajlland. He hath, both fia
«5***3* ' thence, and by Corruption of our faint and a
* vetous Neighbours in tblland^ recovered, ifk
< Silver Hooks, both Mariners, Stiips, Cordage» n
* all Provifions. Thefe being now on the Pbio
^ of Readinefs to ferve on the Seas, a good Aigs
* Inent may be made. That this Navy muft be fti
* England. For now that he hath all the Mini'
< time Coaft of Britain^ and that he hath, mtfuh
* mandy^ Newhaven^ there is no Service by Seats
' enter into any Part of Ffance with this Navy.
* How he and the Pope ply themfelves to
* a Party in England 10 be ready to fecond hb
* vafion, I am forry ar]d loth to relate ; and bov
^ far they have prevailed herein to gain fogrttti
^ Multitude of vulgar People ; yea,of fome thatin
< of Wealth and Countenance, to adhere to thde
< Invaders at their Entry, with vain Hopes to Ih'
< tain to the Places, Honours, and LiveliboodSi of'
* fuch as are now known true, natural Eng^^
* men^ and good Subjedts.
• But to fuch as thefe Arguments wilf notllif-!
* fice to be perluaded, that this Intention of the
< King ofSpain^ to invade this Realm, isceruin^
* this that followeth {hall fully fatisfy any MiOf*
* yea, any Man that ufeth to believe nothing uotil^
* he (hall fee it. There are taken in Scotland^ and*
* imprifoned, certain that came firft out o^Spmni
* near afore Chrijhnas^ from the King; who be-
* fore had been fent ourof Scotland to the Kinj*
* o( Spain. Thefe Meflengers brought AfliiranO^
< to certain Noblemen, of the grcateft Calling in"
« Scotland^ that if they would fend their Bonki'
* under their Hands and Seals, t6 ferve the King
< Spain^ for the Invafion of England^ by
< next Summer, the King would fend an Army
< 25,000 to the Weft of 5^^/j/irf; and would
* the Noblemen Wages for io,qod Siots^ to
* joined v/ith 2o,ccu of bis, to invade Englni
* and woull keep 5000 of his in Scotland^ toaU
« them to over-rule the King oi Scots ^ and to
* change the Religion. This Accord was pci-
• « fcilrf
0/ E N G L A N D. 363
^
' icfted by three Noblemen, Earls /frrol, Hunt/ey, quMn^inStiK
* and Angus ; prornifing their own Afliftance, be- "59z-3'
* fides Afliirancc, in general Words, of divers more,
* not yet difcovered. And for an Eatneft-Penny,
* thefe E;irls have received good Sums cf Money
* from the Lozv-Couniries.
* Now for Proof hereof, the Meflenger that was
* fent, and on Ship-Board, was taken; with the
' Bonds of the Noblemen, fome fignedand fealed
* by ihem all, and of every Earl a Part, in feveral
' Bonds in Fie/uh and Lulin. The Meflenger
* hath confefled the whole to the King, who fo
' carefully proceeded therein as if he had not tra-
' vailed therein hlmfelf j fuch of his Council as
* were appointed to examine the Parues that were
* taken, durll not, for fear of the Greatnefs of the
' Noblemen that had olFendcd, and were not fled,
* examine the Meflenger of any thing that might
* concern thefe Noblemen. They are lince all
* fled; and the King hath gathered ofhisgood Sub-
* jedsa certain Power to purfue them. But it is
* doubled, that they wil! flee into the Weft Iflands.
' And from ihence either to pais into 5^ii/ff, or to
* have Forces fent out of Sp/ji/i. But the King,
* the Day before he went, caufcd one Fcntry, an
* old Praflifer with Spain, for the Queen of SfiJH,
* a Man of a good Hoyfe and great Wealth, to be
' executed, being a principal Contriver of this Con-
* fpiracy. To animate the King to follow this
* Adion, her Majefty hath fent my Lord of
* Bourgh.
' Thus far bavel obferved my Purpofe, tofliew
* the Danger; and to give CounieJ to the Remedy,
' Hoc opus, hie tahar eft. And I would gladly to
* have fome Company, of whom I might have
* fome Light, how to find out the Darknels of the
* Queftion; Wherein, when Time fliall ferve, I
* livill not be filent, but del.'.er mine Opinion,
* and reform it upo:: good Ground.'
\
364 7bf TaHiameiaary HirrocT.
theft^ar, mmd if tie X^g >f ipao. &rJ
fy the Ltrd-fnajvtr^ im Aefmt Pafer tmtp \
For DdcDCe of ttte LmO'Cmatrm \
bjr Year . — /
For -he Charge in Mr fbMeftin^t 7
Time, for Ycsra i
To Ihe Ear ; of Ltitejia- for Slmet
To Su 7a>mdi Sbir'.ijy Fti. 1586.
Toal,
In NwmanSj with my Lonl Wil- '
leughfy, for 6cco Men, ^
Id Harmandj with my Lord of
£/$*,wiih ThoufandMcD.
' Jd Britain with Sir y**" Narris,
with 4C00 Men. fn aiding the .
Fr«(A King with Money. For f-
MaintenanceoftheNavyon the
Narrow Seas, fomeiimcs with
800, fomctimes with 70c, fome-
limes wiih 600,
Befides llje ordinary keeping of the'
846.120 iL
y 33i,ooofl
3efides llje ordinary keeping of the^
Navy at tiool. a Month ; per^ 14,400/.
Annum . . J
For the Office of the Ordnance
ScBtland
In all
6z,ooo<
15,000^
H
1,218,803/.
.M;r(i the 24th. TheCoi^mons fentupa Bill
\ large SdbGdy. '" ''"^ Lords, which Was entitled, A Acl for tht
Grant of thrte entire Subfidies and fix Fifteenths
anJTcnihSt ty thiTemparaHiy i and it palled the
Houfe of Lonis, on the joUi, without any Oppo-
fuh
ThiS is all that the Jnumah of the Lords ^n
but, ihiit of the Commcmt b not £0 barro
0/ E N G L A N a 3^5
For after the Ceremonies of the Opening this Sef- Q'"*" Eli"Wc(li
fion were finifhed, ihe next Thing we find enter- 'S'*"''
cd, is, * That on February 24th Mr. Peter IVent-
wtrth and Sir Hemy Bromley delivered u Petition to
the Lord Keeper, therein defiritig ihe Lords of the
Upper Houfe lo be Suppliants, with ihcm of the
Lower, unto her IVlaJefty for Entailing the SuueJJisn
ef the Cmiuii; for which they had a Bill ready
drawn.'
This Matter was highly refenled by the Qiieen,
as contrary to her former ftrift Commarics. They
were foon after called before the Coiincil ; and,
though Ihe Lords there fpokc favour^tbly to them,
yet, they were loM tliat her Majelty was fo high-
ly offended at them ihat they muft be committed.
Accordingly, Mr. Wenlivorth was fent Prifoner 10^^,^^ Mmibtn
the Tswer, Sir tbrtry Brornley 10 the Fleet -, and rommitted bj
one Mr. Richard Stevens and Mr. fi'ekh, two't"'Pn''rCoun-
other Members concerned in drawing the Petition, f'4j"„^'^,^1^
were fent to the Flee: with him. wetheSuccejUon
This is an odd Beginning of aParliament; and"'' ''« Crown,
(hewed the Queen's Refoluiion to maintain the
Prerogative of the Crown in a very high Degree.
How long ihefe four Members were confined is
uncertain; for, on the loth of Alarih one Mt.
ff^rgtb, we are told, moved the Houfe, on the
Subfidy-Bill, ' That fince Tome Countries might
complain of thefe very large Taxations, their
Knights and EurgelTes never confeniing, not being
prefent at the Grant: And, becaule, an Inftru-
meiltj by taking away fome of its Strings, can give
but an unpleafant Sound: Therefore, he defired , , .
that the Houie would be humble Suitors to heroifch"^"
Majefty, that fhe wuulii be pleafcd to fet at Liberty
tbofe Members 01 it thai were reftrained.'
This was oppofed by all ihc Membi-rs of the
Privy-Counci! in i\i.n Houfe j who argued ' That
her Majefty had cjinmitted them for Reatons bell
known !o htrfelf 1 and for them !o prefs her in that
Suit was but to make their Cale the worfe. They
added, that it was not to be doubled but her Ma-
Ekftyi of her gracious Difpofition, would Ihorily do
1
:tEer
:m.'
/Old
npo-j
rnegH
m uk ■
^66 The ^Parliamentary History.
' it of Iier own Accord, and that it was much better
to have it left to heifelf than fought for by ihcm.'
It is ftrange that Ccmbdcn hath not one Word
of this memorable Accident, who was CotempCK
rary and muft be acquainted with it. However^
this Severity of the Qyeen's had its Effect; For \
more Mention is made of Settling the SucceHIon
this Parliament, nor in any other of her Reign.
On the 26th of Fekmnry, the Bufmefs of a Sup-
he P'y "'^^ moved in this Houfe ; our Jour^aUft is
■n very particular in iheSpceches made on that Occa-
fion, by the Minifters of State who were Members
of that Houfe, is'c. We are told they were not
entered in the Original Journal Book of the Com-
mons, but taken frotr. an Anonymous Manufcript
yournal, kept by fome Member of it. This Gen-
tleman proves to be Heyweed Timnjhendy Efq;
who hath left a CclleiStion of all the Proceedings
in the four laft Parliaments of Elizabeth, whicb
were printed, Fsl'io, Lstiden 1680. The Journals
of Sir Symonds Dewa were not publifhed till two
Years after, but then they were pofthumous, and
dedicated to Sir W.ll.ughby Dciuei his Son ; lb that
it is probable he never knew who was the Author
of the former. This being premifed,
proceed to the Speeches on the Supply, and
Sir R<.beTt ddi
Mr. Speaker,
' As I remember, I have been of this Houfe
* ihefe five Pariiamenis; and I have not dciermi-
' ned to fay any thing, in thcfe AflemblieSi further
' than my Cogitatioiw fliould concur with my Con-
' fcience in faying bare Ae, or No. Give me leave,
' I pray you, to rehearfe an old Saying, and it is
' in Latin, Nee te allaudss, nee te vitupcns ipjs;
' for me to do the one were exceeding Arrogancy,
* and to do the other, 1 do confcfs, I hope, you
* will pardon me,
* The Occafion ot this Parliament, as I take it J
' by that which we received from the honourablei
' and learned Speech of the Lord Keeper of and 'I
froffl'j
itnor
1
r
0/ E N G L A N D. -^.tij
* from her Majefty to us in llie Higher Houfe, isi^atnElinbeili.
* for the Cauie of Religion and Maintenance iherc- '591-1.
' of junongft us, the Piefervation of her Majeftv's
* mod Royal Pcrfon, and the Good of this Kenlni
' of our Country. All which becauie ihey be
' things of mull dear and greateft Price, and at
* this prefent in exceeding great and imminent
* Danger, it is moft behoofFul to confult of fpeedy
' Remedies, which fhould proceed from the wifeft
* Heads. The Enemy to ihcfe is the King of
' Spahf whofe Malice and Ambition is fuch, as
* together with the Pope-, that Antichrift of Rome^
* (for I may well couple them together, the one
* being always accompanied with Envy at our
* Profperity, the other with unfatiableDelire} makes
* them by all Means to feek the Subverfion of the
•Stale. But concerning the firft, The Caufe of
* God and his Religion, which her Majefty pro-
' felled befor* fhe came to lit in this Roya! Seat,
* which (he hith defended and mainlained, and for
* which Caufe God hath fo bleflbd her Govern- ,
' ihent fince her Coming to the Ciown: Yea,
* while the Crown was icarce warm on her Head,
■ flie abolifhed the Auihorjty of Rome^ and did fet
* up God's Truth amongft us; and to her great
' Renown made this iiiile Land 10 be a Sandtuary
' for all the perfecuted Saints of God : Whereby
' the People perceived her Magnanimity, Zeal and *
* Judgment; Magnanimity in undertaking fo great
* an Enterprize ; Zeal in profelTmg the fame, not
' for the Shew, but of Sincerity ; Judgment in de-
* fending it and preventins all the Pope\ De-
* ligns. He Tent forth his Bulls andMiffives againlt
* her Majefty, thereby unnaturally depriving her
* of her natural Right, the Du[y and Loyalty
* which herSubje^s Ihould oweunioher, £;ff. He
* touched the many Dangers her Majefty had been
* in, which as it caufed him to fear 10 think, fo did
* he tremble to fpeak concerning the Danger of our
* Country, and lb the Lois of our Lives, Liber-
* ties, Wives, Children, and all other Privileges.
* Let pie not trouble you with things psft fo long,
* and
r
3 (58 7/jeTarliamerittiryHisroR.r ^
QiKenElitabcth. • and perhaps beyond my Reach, but with Things
'i9»-J- * pall of late Years and fince Eighty Eight. When.
' we were fo fecure, and never thought that the
' King of Spain would have fet up his Reft for
' England: Then Cent lie hb Navy termed luviri'
' cible, and was almoft upon the Backs of us before
' we were aware. Yea, we were fo flack in Pro-
' vifion, that it was too late to make Refiftance,
' had not God preferved us. His Attempt againft
'us, by feekiagto win the £ow-Csaa/rw and to
' obtain hdaiid, being but Trifles and paultry De-
' vices, which I mean not to trouble you with ; be
' hath now of late gone about to win Framt,
' wherein he haih greatly prevailed, a? in Larroia
' and in other Parts, as you have heard, but fpe-
* cially in Brltatiy, having moft Part of the Port-
* Towns in his PolTelTion, whiilier he ftill fendcth
' Supply daily, and reinforces them every four or
' five Months, which Port is always open and his
' Men and Forces never wanting. This Province
* he cfpecially defireth, for it lyelh moft filly to
' annoy us, whither he may fend Forces contJnual-
' ly, and there have his Navy in a Readinefs j the
* which he could not fo eafily, unlefs he had tht
' Wind in a Bag. Befijes, having this Province,
' he will keep us from Traffick to Refheil and
' Bordeaux, as he doth in the Sireights from Tri-
'/■:/> riod St. yean de Luze : And lb hinder us from
* carrying Ibtth and bringing into this Land any
' Commodities from ihofe Pans, wheieby the
' Realm might be inriched and her M.ijefty's Iin-
' poll incrcafcd, being one of the greateft Reve-
'nuesof htr Crown- He haih alfo gone about
* with them of Stode and the King of Poland, one
* of his own Failion, and who by reafon he can-
' not do in that Kingdom what he Hftcth, he may
' not lb ealily command him to impede, or hin-
' der our Traffick in ihofe Eaftern Pans, whidi if
* he could bring to pafs, you fee how hurtful it
' woiald be to this Land.
* But to defcend yet lower into thefe latter Ac-
* tiotis. He hath leen it is but a Folly to make
* Wooden-
0/ ENGLAND. 3^^
' Wooden-Bridges to pafs into England, lt>erefore Q„„n Eiij,t,[l, '
' he harh found out a furer Way and ftronger Paf- ijgi-j.
' (age into it by Land, and that hy Scsthnd; which
* ihougli it be not talked of on the Exchange, nor
' preached at Pc-a/'s Crofs, yet it is inoft true ; an4
' in Scsiland as common as the High-way, " That
" he hath procured unto him many of the Nobility
" there.' It may be he haih fent thither no great
' Navy, and that her Majefty would not fuffcr hiin
'to do; yet do what ihe car, fomc one Paltry
* Fly-Boat may efcape her Majefty's Shifls, and
' carry Gold enough in her to make them Traitors,
* and ftir them 10 Sedition. Thefe Things her
* Majefty underftood before, and adveriifed the
* King thereof; which the EfFefl hath proved to
* be true. For unlefs 1 bedeceived, the lift Lct-
* tors, that came from thence, might flieiv that the
' King is gone to make a Road into the North, and
' to bring back the Lord BBthwell and the Lord
* Huniky. The King of Spain's Malice ibuE daily
' increafeih agsinll us, and feeketh alfo to ftir up
' Sedition amongft \ii by bis In(lrumi--nls. The
' Number alfo of Ptipijfs daily increafeih, or at
' leftwife becomes more manifeft. My Advice is,
* that you would confult how to withftand fuch
' imminent Dangers, which the greater they be,
' the fooner they ihould be looked mto and remem-
' bred. Wherefore I would defire Mr. Speaker,
' rhar he would appoint fome Committees of the
' fufficienttft and wjleft Men in the Houfe to con-
' lider thereon,'
Then Sir John miUy fpake to the like Ef-
feft, faying, ' That upon ihc Caufe of the Dan-
' ger the Realm was now in, anJ of the Remedy,
his Speech (houU confift ; wh ch he likened to a
natural Body, in which the more Danger the
principal Member wa? in, the greater Means there
iliould be ufed fur the Prefervaiion thereof.
Roan being made now Admiral of France by
theCcague, (hould fay, that he was a poor Ad-
miral now, but yet he doubted not, bQf thatthorc-
VOL. iV, A a My
J 68 Jhe TarHametitary HisTO.
■!>■ • and perhaps beyond my Reach, but with, ^
* part of laie Years and fince Eighty Eigh,""
' we were lb fecure, and never ihoup' '
* King of Spain would have fet up
' England: Then fent lie his Nav
' clhle^ and was almoft upon the ''
* we were aware. Yea, we w
' vifion, that it was loo late
' had not God preferved us
* us, by feeking to win ih'
' obtain Ireland, being br
* vices, which I mean n
* hath now of late
* wherein he huh gr
' and in other Par
' daily in Bri:ar
AoaS:,
eihon,
Jurgelies
jcfs being
.tJ3t Houfe
iOulesinfcded
. difpaich and end
.iiiglit be. He alto
, J troubled our Fifhet-
;on the Sca-coafta. And
,ht be committed to fome
' Towns in h^ -'t ^^ 'he Houle. He alfo
* Supply dap ^uie to a {\Kedy Agreeing of a Sulj-
' five Mod' ^jiic^. confidering the Dangers we were
' Men an' j'fWi it was for our own Good, as alfo,
' he efp , Afajefty'a, he hoped that no good Suhjefl
' annr y^ld willingly agree lo it. Alio, he (hew-
' ly. -^jSa: the Wars wiih ibe King of Spuln had
* V" '^ftcr Majefty a Million of Money : But this
* "/^fotjched, that where it coft her Majefty
'/coft tfie King of Spain three."
ipJSftj
rhen S\xji>hti Fertefiue faid, * They that jpL_
.fcerore me, Ipake fufficienily of the Authors of
* our Troubles, of the great Danger which is now
* imminent, infomuch that it is come to this
* Point now, Nori uln'iin irnperure, fed utrum vi-
* vtre. I will Jpeak of nothing but that which
*c 
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